Method for deciding communication protocol between wireless power transmitter and wireless power receiver

ABSTRACT

This specification provides a method for deciding a communication protocol between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver. To this end, a method for deciding a communication protocol by the wireless power receiver for data transmission or reception with the wireless power transmitter includes transmitting first communication protocol information indicating communication protocols supportable by the wireless power receiver itself to the wireless power transmitter, and deciding a communication protocol for the data transmission or data reception based on second communication protocol information, which indicates communication protocols selected based on the first communication protocol information, when the second communication protocol information is received from the wireless power transmitter.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-In-Part of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/649,936 filed on Oct. 11, 2012, which claims thebenefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No.61/638,286 filed on Apr. 25, 2012, all of which are hereby expresslyincorporated by reference into the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to wireless charging, and moreparticularly, wireless charging according to a charging characteristic.

Discussion of the Related Art

In recent years, the method of contactlessly supplying electrical energyto electronic devices in a wireless manner has been used instead of thetraditional method of supplying electrical energy in a wired manner. Theelectronic device receiving energy in a wireless manner may be directlydriven by the received wireless power, or a battery may be charged byusing the received wireless power, then allowing the electronic deviceto be driven by the charged power.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an aspect of this specification is to provide a method fordeciding (or selecting) a communication protocol between a wirelesspower transmitter and a wireless power receiver.

In accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein, there is provided amethod for deciding a communication protocol by a wireless powerreceiver for data transmission or data reception with a wireless powertransmitter, the method including transmitting first communicationprotocol information to the wireless power transmitter, the firstcommunication protocol information indicating communication protocolssupportable by the wireless power receiver itself, and deciding acommunication protocol for the data transmission or data reception basedon second communication protocol information when the secondcommunication protocol information is received from the wireless powertransmitter, the second communication protocol information indicatingcommunication protocols selected based on the first communicationprotocol information.

In one exemplary embodiment, the first communication protocolinformation may include a communication protocol list in whichcommunication protocols supportable by the wireless power receiver arelisted.

In one exemplary embodiment, the communication protocols supportable bythe wireless power receiver may be selected from predeterminedcommunication protocols included in a communication protocol catalog.

In one exemplary embodiment, the second communication protocolinformation may include a communication protocol list in whichcommunication protocols selected based on the first communicationprotocol information are listed.

In one exemplary embodiment, when the selected communication protocolsare in plurality, the decision of the communication protocol may beexecuted based on positions of the selected communication protocols inthe communication protocol list containing the selected communicationprotocols.

In one exemplary embodiment, the method may further include performingthe data transmission or data reception with the wireless powertransmitter based on the decided communication protocol.

In one exemplary embodiment, the transmitting of the first communicationprotocol information to the wireless power transmitter may includegenerating a packet including the first communication protocolinformation, and transmitting the generated packet to the wireless powertransmitter.

In one exemplary embodiment, the packet may be transmitted by modulatinga wireless power signal generated by the wireless power transmitter toinclude the packet.

In one exemplary embodiment, the packet may be transmitted by acommunication module provided in the wireless power receiver.

In one exemplary embodiment, the communication module may support atleast one of Zigbee, Bluetooth and Near Field Communication (NFC).

In one exemplary embodiment, the first communication protocolinformation or the second communication protocol information may includecommunication direction information and a communication protocol numberindicating the type of communication protocol.

In one exemplary embodiment, the communication direction information mayinclude information indicating a first direction that data istransmitted from the wireless power transmitter to the wireless powerreceiver, and a second direction that data is transmitted from thewireless power receiver to the wireless power transmitter.

In one exemplary embodiment, the selected communication protocols mayinclude a communication protocol corresponding to the first directionand a communication protocol corresponding to the second direction.

In one exemplary embodiment, the first communication protocolinformation or the second communication protocol information may be7-bit information. Here, the communication direction information may be1-bit information, and the communication protocol number information maybe 6-bit information.

In one exemplary embodiment, the method may further include performingthe data transmission or data reception with the wireless powertransmitter based on a reference communication protocol upon failure ofthe reception of the second communication protocol information from thewireless power transmitter.

In one exemplary embodiment, the reference communication protocol may bea communication protocol for ensuring data transmission or datareception between the wireless power transmitter and the wireless powerreceiver.

In accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein, there is provided amethod for deciding a communication protocol by a wireless powertransmitter for data transmission or data reception with a wirelesspower receiver, the method including deciding a communication protocolbased on first communication protocol information upon reception of thefirst communication protocol information from the wireless powerreceiver, the first communication protocol indicating communicationprotocols supportable by the wireless power receiver, and transmittingsecond communication protocol information to the wireless powerreceiver, the second communication protocol information indicating thedecided communication protocol.

In one exemplary embodiment, the method may further include performingthe data transmission or data reception based on the decidedcommunication protocol.

In one exemplary embodiment, the transmitting of the secondcommunication protocol information to the wireless power receiver mayinclude generating a packet including the second communication protocolinformation, and transmitting the generated packet to the wireless powerreceiver.

In one exemplary embodiment, the packet may be transmitted by generatinga wireless power signal which has been modulated to include the packet.

In one exemplary embodiment, the packet may be transmitted by acommunication module provided in the wireless power transmitter.

In one exemplary embodiment, the communication module may support atleast one of Zigbee, Bluetooth and NFC.

In one exemplary embodiment, the first communication protocolinformation or the second communication protocol information may includecommunication direction information and a communication protocol numberindicating a type of the communication protocol.

In one exemplary embodiment, the method may further include performingthe data transmission or data reception with the wireless power receiverbased on a reference communication protocol upon failure of thereception of the first communication protocol information from thewireless power receiver.

In one exemplary embodiment, the reference communication protocol may bea communication protocol for ensuring the data transmission or datareception between the wireless power transmitter and the wireless powerreceiver.

In accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein, there is provided awireless power receiver for receiving power from a wireless powertransmitter in a wireless manner by receiving a wireless power signal,the receiver including a power receiving unit configured to receive thewireless power signal; and a power reception control unit configured totransmit first communication protocol information to the wireless powertransmitter, the first communication protocol information indicatingcommunication protocols supportable by the wireless power receiver, anddecide a communication protocol for data transmission or data receptionfor receiving the wireless power signal based on second communicationprotocol information upon receiving the second communication protocolinformation from the wireless power transmitter, the secondcommunication protocol information indicating communication protocolsselected based on the first communication protocol information.

In one exemplary embodiment, the power reception control unit maygenerate a packet including the first communication protocolinformation, and the power receiving unit may modulate the wirelesspower signal to include the packet.

In one exemplary embodiment, the receiver may further include acommunication module configured to transmit the first communicationprotocol information to the wireless power transmitter and receive thesecond communication protocol information from the wireless powertransmitter.

In accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein, there is provided awireless power transmitter for transferring power to a wireless powerreceiver in a wireless manner by generating a wireless power signal, themethod including a power conversion unit configured to generate thewireless power signal, and a power transmission control unit configuredto decide a communication protocol for data transmission or datareception for transmitting the wireless power signal based on firstcommunication protocol information upon receiving the firstcommunication protocol information from the wireless power receiver, thefirst communication protocol information indicating communicationprotocols supportable by the wireless power receiver, and transmitsecond communication protocol information to the wireless powerreceiver, the second communication protocol information indicating thedecided communication protocol.

According to a method for deciding a communication protocol between awireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver in accordancewith one exemplary embodiment of this specification, it may beadvantageous to extend an application range of a wireless power transfersystem by providing a method for deciding (or selecting) a specificcommunication protocol of a plurality of communication protocols so asto allow for use of the plurality of communication protocols, in a datacommunication between the wireless power transmitter and the wirelesspower receiver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary view conceptually illustrating a wireless powertransmitter and an electronic device according to the embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are exemplary block diagrams illustrating theconfiguration of a wireless power transmitter 100 and an electronicdevice (or wireless power receiver) 200 that can be employed in theembodiments disclosed herein, respectively;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a concept in which power is transferredfrom a wireless power transmitter to an electronic device in a wirelessmanner according to an inductive coupling method;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a block diagram illustrating part of the wirelesspower transmitter 100 and electronic device (or wireless power receiver)200 in a magnetic induction method that can be employed in theembodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless power transmitterconfigured to have one or more transmission coils receiving poweraccording to an inductive coupling method that can be employed in theembodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a concept in which power is transferred toan electronic device from a wireless power transmitter in a wirelessmanner according to a resonance coupling method;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are a block diagram illustrating part of the wirelesspower transmitter 100 and electronic device (or wireless power receiver)200 in a resonance method that can be employed in the embodimentsdisclosed herein;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless power transmitterconfigured to have one or more transmission coils receiving poweraccording to a resonance coupling method that can be employed in theembodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless power transmitterfurther including an additional element in addition to the configurationillustrated in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 10 is view illustrating a configuration in case where an electronicdevice (or wireless power receiver) 200 according to the embodimentsdisclosed herein is implemented in the form of a mobile terminal;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are a view illustrating the concept of transmittingand receiving a packet between a wireless power transmitter and anelectronic device through the modulation and demodulation of a wirelesspower signal in transferring power in a wireless manner disclosedherein;

FIGS. 12A and 12B is a view illustrating a method of showing data bitsand byte constituting a power control message provided by the wirelesspower transmitter 100;

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a packet including a power controlmessage used in a contactless (wireless) power transfer method accordingto the embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 14 is a view illustrating the operation phases of the wirelesspower transmitter 100 and electronic device (or wireless power receiver)200 according to the embodiments disclosed herein;

FIGS. 15 through 19 are views illustrating the structure of packetsincluding a power control message between the wireless power transmitter100 and electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200;

FIG. 20 is a view illustrating a configuration of a wireless powersystem in accordance with one exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 21 is an exemplary view illustrating a communication protocolcatalog in accordance with one exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 22 is an exemplary view illustrating communication protocolinformation in accordance with one exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 23 is an exemplary view illustrating a communication protocol listin accordance with one exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 24 is an exemplary view illustrating types of packets in accordancewith one exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 25 is an exemplary view illustrating a type (contents) ofconfiguration packet in accordance with one exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 26 is a communication flowchart under Wireless Power Consortium(WPC) standard;

FIG. 27 is a communication flowchart between a wireless powertransmitter and a wireless power receiver in accordance with oneexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 28 is an exemplary view illustrating a method for deciding acommunication protocol between a wireless power transmitter and awireless power receiver in accordance with one exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating a method for deciding acommunication protocol by a wireless power receiver in accordance withone exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a method for deciding acommunication protocol by a wireless power transmitter in accordancewith one exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The technologies disclosed herein may be applicable to wireless powertransfer (contactless power transfer). However, the technologiesdisclosed herein are not limited to this, and may be also applicable toall kinds of power transmission systems and methods, wireless chargingcircuits and methods to which the technological spirit of the technologycan be applicable, in addition to the methods and apparatuses usingpower transmitted in a wireless manner.

It should be noted that technological terms used herein are merely usedto describe a specific embodiment, but not to limit the presentinvention. Also, unless particularly defined otherwise, technologicalterms used herein should be construed as a meaning that is generallyunderstood by those having ordinary skill in the art to which theinvention pertains, and should not be construed too broadly or toonarrowly. Furthermore, if technological terms used herein are wrongterms unable to correctly express the spirit of the invention, then theyshould be replaced by technological terms that are properly understoodby those skilled in the art. In addition, general terms used in thisinvention should be construed based on the definition of dictionary, orthe context, and should not be construed too broadly or too narrowly.

Incidentally, unless clearly used otherwise, expressions in the singularnumber include a plural meaning. In this application, the terms“comprising” and “including” should not be construed to necessarilyinclude all of the elements or steps disclosed herein, and should beconstrued not to include some of the elements or steps thereof, orshould be construed to further include additional elements or steps.

In addition, a suffix “module” or “unit” used for constituent elementsdisclosed in the following description is merely intended for easydescription of the specification, and the suffix itself does not giveany special meaning or function.

Furthermore, the terms including an ordinal number such as first,second, etc. can be used to describe various elements, but the elementsshould not be limited by those terms. The terms are used merely for thepurpose to distinguish an element from the other element. For example, afirst element may be named to a second element, and similarly, a secondelement may be named to a first element without departing from the scopeof right of the invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and thesame or similar elements are designated with the same numeral referencesregardless of the numerals in the drawings and their redundantdescription will be omitted.

In describing the present invention, moreover, the detailed descriptionwill be omitted when a specific description for publicly knowntechnologies to which the invention pertains is judged to obscure thegist of the present invention. Also, it should be noted that theaccompanying drawings are merely illustrated to easily explain thespirit of the invention, and therefore, they should not be construed tolimit the spirit of the invention by the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1—Conceptual View of Wireless Power Transmitter and ElectronicDevice

FIG. 1 is an exemplary view conceptually illustrating a wireless powertransmitter and an electronic device according to the embodiments of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the wireless power transmitter 100 may be a powertransfer apparatus configured to transfer power required for theelectronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 in a wireless manner.

Furthermore, the wireless power transmitter 100 may be a wirelesscharging apparatus configured to charge a battery of the electronicdevice (or wireless power receiver) 200 by transferring power in awireless manner. A case where the wireless power transmitter 100 is awireless charging apparatus will be described later with reference toFIG. 9.

Additionally, the wireless power transmitter 100 may be implemented withvarious forms of apparatuses transferring power to the electronic device(or wireless power receiver) 200 requiring power in a contactless state.

The electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 is a device thatis operable by receiving power from the wireless power transmitter 100in a wireless manner. Furthermore, the electronic device (or wirelesspower receiver) 200 may charge a battery using the received wirelesspower.

On the other hand, an electronic device for receiving power in awireless manner as described herein should be construed broadly toinclude a portable phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a tablet, amultimedia device, or the like, in addition to an input/output devicesuch as a keyboard, a mouse, an audio-visual auxiliary device, and thelike.

The electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200, as describedlater, may be a mobile communication terminal, (for example, a portablephone, a cellular phone, and a tablet or multimedia device). In casewhere the electronic device is a mobile terminal, it will be describedlater with reference to FIG. 10.

On the other hand, the wireless power transmitter 100 may transfer powerin a wireless manner without mutual contact to the electronic device (orwireless power receiver) 200 using one or more wireless power transfermethods. In other words, the wireless power transmitter 100 may transferpower using at least one of an inductive coupling method based onmagnetic induction phenomenon by the wireless power signal and amagnetic resonance coupling method based on electromagnetic resonancephenomenon by a wireless power signal at a specific frequency.

Wireless power transfer in the inductive coupling method is a technologytransferring power in a wireless manner using a primary coil and asecondary coil, and refers to the transmission of power by inducing acurrent from a coil to another coil through a changing magnetic field bya magnetic induction phenomenon.

Wireless power transfer in the inductive coupling method refers to atechnology in which the electronic device (or wireless power receiver)200 generates resonance by a wireless power signal transmitted from thewireless power transmitter 100 to transfer power from the wireless powertransmitter 100 to the wireless power receiver 200 by the resonancephenomenon.

Hereinafter, the wireless power transmitter 100 and electronic device(or wireless power receiver) 200 according to the embodiments disclosedherein will be described in detail. In assigning reference numerals tothe constituent elements in each of the following drawings, the samereference numerals will be used for the same constituent elements eventhough they are shown in a different drawing.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are an exemplary block diagrams illustrating theconfiguration of a wireless power transmitter 100 and an electronicdevice (or wireless power receiver) 200 that can be employed in theembodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 2A—Wireless Power Transmitter

Referring to FIG. 2A, the wireless power transmitter 100 may include apower transmission unit 110. The power transmission unit 110 may includea power conversion unit 111 and a power transmission control unit 112.

The power conversion unit 111 transfers power supplied from atransmission side power supply unit 190 to the electronic device (orwireless power receiver) 200 by converting it into a wireless powersignal. The wireless power signal transferred by the power conversionunit 111 is generated in the form of a magnetic field orelectro-magnetic field having an oscillation characteristic. For thispurpose, the power conversion unit 111 may be configured to include acoil for generating the wireless power signal.

The power conversion unit 111 may include a constituent element forgenerating a different type of wireless power signal according to eachpower transfer method.

In accordance with exemplary embodiments, the power conversion unit 111may include a primary coil for forming a changing magnetic field toinduce a current to a secondary coil of the electronic device (orwireless power receiver) 200. Furthermore, the power conversion unit 111may include a coil (or antenna) for forming a magnetic field having aspecific resonant frequency to generate a resonant frequency in theelectronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 according to theresonance coupling method.

Furthermore, the power conversion unit 111 may transfer power using atleast one of the foregoing inductive coupling method and the resonancecoupling method.

Among the constituent elements included in the power conversion unit111, those for the inductive coupling method will be described laterwith reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, and those for the resonance couplingmethod will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

On the other hand, the power conversion unit 111 may further include acircuit for controlling the characteristics of a used frequency, anapplied voltage, an applied current or the like to form the wirelesspower signal.

The power transmission control unit 112 controls each of the constituentelements included in the power transmission unit 110 The powertransmission control unit 112 may be implemented to be integrated intoanother control unit (not shown) for controlling the wireless powertransmitter 100.

On the other hand, a region to which the wireless power signal can beapproached may be divided into two types. First, an active area denotesa region through which a wireless power signal transferring power to theelectronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 is passed. Next, asemi-active area denotes an interest region in which the wireless powertransmitter 100 can detect the existence of the electronic device (orwireless power receiver) 200. Here, the power transmission control unit112 may detect whether the electronic device (or wireless powerreceiver) 200 is placed in the active area or detection area or removedfrom the area. Specifically, the power transmission control unit 112 maydetect whether or not the electronic device (or wireless power receiver)200 is placed in the active area or detection area using a wirelesspower signal formed from the power conversion unit 111 or a sensorseparately provided therein. For instance, the power transmissioncontrol unit 112 may detect the presence of the electronic device (orwireless power receiver) 200 by monitoring whether or not thecharacteristic of power for forming the wireless power signal is changedby the wireless power signal, which is affected by the electronic device(or wireless power receiver) 200 existing in the detection area.However, the active area and detection area may vary according to thewireless power transfer method such as an inductive coupling method, aresonance coupling method, and the like.

The power transmission control unit 112 may perform the process ofidentifying the electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 ordetermine whether to start wireless power transfer according to a resultof detecting the existence of the electronic device (or wireless powerreceiver) 200.

Furthermore, the power transmission control unit 112 may determine atleast one characteristic of a frequency, a voltage, and a current of thepower conversion unit 111 for forming the wireless power signal. Thedetermination of the characteristic may be carried out by a condition atthe side of the wireless power transmitter 100 or a condition at theside of the electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200. Inexemplary embodiments, the power transmission control unit 112 maydecide the characteristic based on device identification information. Inanother exemplary embodiment, the power transmission control unit 112may decide the characteristic based on required power information of theelectronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 or profileinformation related to the required power. The power transmissioncontrol unit 112 may receive a power control message from the electronicdevice (or wireless power receiver) 200. The power transmission controlunit 112 may determine at least one characteristic of a frequency, avoltage and a current of the power conversion unit 111 based on thereceived power control message, and additionally perform other controloperations based on the power control message.

For example, the power transmission control unit 112 may determine atleast one characteristic of a frequency, a voltage and a current used toform the wireless power signal according to the power control messageincluding at least one of rectified power amount information, chargingstate information and identification information in the electronicdevice (or wireless power receiver) 200.

Furthermore, as another control operation using the power controlmessage, the wireless power transmitter 100 may perform a typicalcontrol operation associated with wireless power transfer based on thepower control message. For example, the wireless power transmitter 100may receive information associated with the electronic device (orwireless power receiver) 200 to be auditorily or visually outputtedthrough the power control message, or receive information required forauthentication between devices.

In exemplary embodiments, the power transmission control unit 112 mayreceive the power control message through the wireless power signal. Inother exemplary embodiment, the power transmission control unit 112 mayreceive the power control message through a method for receiving userdata.

In order to receive the foregoing power control message, the wirelesspower transmitter 100 may further include a modulation/demodulation unit113 electrically connected to the power conversion unit 111. Themodulation/demodulation unit 113 may modulate a wireless power signalthat has been modulated by the electronic device (or wireless powerreceiver) 200 and use it to receive the power control message. Themethod for allowing the power conversion unit 111 to receive a powercontrol message using a wireless power signal will be described laterwith reference to FIGS. 11 through 13.

In addition, the power transmission control unit 112 may acquire a powercontrol message by receiving user data including a power control messageby a communication means (not shown) included in the wireless powertransmitter 100.

In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the wireless powertransmitter 100 may supply power to a plurality of electronic devices.Here, collision may occur between wireless power signal which have beenmodulated by the plurality of electronic devices. Hence, the constituentelements included in the wireless power transmitter 100 may performvarious operations to avoid such collision between the modulatedwireless power signal.

In one exemplary embodiment, the power conversion unit 111 may convertpower supplied from the transmission side power supply unit 190 into awireless power signal and transfer it to the plurality of electronicdevices. For example, the plurality of electronic devices may be twoelectronic devices, namely, a first electronic device and a secondelectronic device.

The power conversion unit 111 may generate a wireless power signal forpower transmission, and receive a first response signal and a secondresponse signal corresponding to the wireless power signal.

The power transmission control unit 112 may determine whether or not thefirst and second response signals collide with each other. When thefirst and second response signals collide with each other according tothe determination result, the power transmission control unit 112 mayreset the power transmission.

The first and second response signals may be generated by modulating thewireless power signal through the first and second electronic devices.

Through the resetting of the power transmission, the power transmissioncontrol unit 112 may control the power conversion unit 111 tosequentially receive the first and second response signals, which aregenerated to avoid collision with each other.

The sequential reception indicates that the first response signal isreceived after a first time interval and the second response signal isreceived after a second time interval within a predetermined responseperiod. The first and second time intervals may be decided based on avalue obtained by generating a random number.

The predetermined response period (Tping interval) may be decided to belong enough to include both the first response signal and the secondresponse signal. Also, it may be decided after resetting the powertransmission.

In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, occurrence ornon-occurrence of the collision may be determined according to whetheror not the first and second response signals are decoded using a presetformat. The preset format may include a preamble, a header and amessage. Whether or not the first and second response signals collidewith each other may be determined based on whether or not the first andsecond response signals are not recoverable due to an error generationin at least one of the preamble, the header and the message caused bythe collision.

In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the power conversion unit111 may periodically receive a response signal of the first device,which does not collide with a response signal of the second devicewithin a first response period (Tping interval_1). The powertransmission control unit may decode the first response signal and thesecond response signal using a preset format, and determine whether ornot the first and second response signals have collided with each otherbased on whether or not the decoding is performed. Here, the firstresponse signal and the second response signal may be periodicallyreceived within a second response period (Tping interval_2). The secondresponse period (Tping interval_2) may be decided long enough to includeboth the first and second response signals, and be decided afterresetting the power transmission.

FIG. 2B—Electronic Device

Referring to FIG. 2B, the electronic device (or wireless power receiver)200 may include a power supply unit 290. The power supply unit 290supplies power required for the operation of the electronic device (orwireless power receiver) 200. The power supply unit 290 may include apower receiving unit 291 and a Power reception control unit (or POWERRECEIVING CONTROL UNIT) 292.

The power receiving unit 291 receives power transferred from thewireless power transmitter 100 in a wireless manner.

The power receiving unit 291 may include constituent elements requiredto receive the wireless power signal according to a wireless powertransfer method. Furthermore, the power receiving unit 291 may receivepower according to at least one wireless power transfer method, and inthis case, the power receiving unit 291 may include constituent elementsrequired for each method.

First, the power receiving unit 291 may include a coil for receiving awireless power signal transferred in the form of a magnetic field orelectromagnetic field having a vibration characteristic.

For instance, as a constituent element according to the inductivecoupling method, the power receiving unit 291 may include a secondarycoil to which a current is induced by a changing magnetic field. Inexemplary embodiments, the power receiving unit 291, as a constituentelement according to the resonance coupling method, may include a coiland a resonant circuit in which resonance phenomenon is generated by amagnetic field having a specific resonant frequency.

In another exemplary embodiments, when the power receiving unit 291receives power according to at least one wireless power transfer method,the power receiving unit 291 may be implemented to receive power byusing a coil, or implemented to receive power by using a coil formeddifferently according to each power transfer method.

Among the constituent elements included in the power receiving unit 291,those for the inductive coupling method will be described later withreference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, and those for the resonance couplingmethod with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B.

On the other hand, the power receiving unit 291 may further include arectifier and a regulator to convert the wireless power signal into adirect current. Furthermore, the power receiving unit 291 may furtherinclude a circuit for protecting an overvoltage or overcurrent frombeing generated by the received power signal.

The Power reception control unit (or POWER RECEIVING CONTROL UNIT) 292may control each constituent element included in the power supply unit290.

Specifically, the Power reception control unit (or POWER RECEIVINGCONTROL UNIT) 292 may transfer a power control message to the wirelesspower transmitter 100. The power control message may instruct thewireless power transmitter 100 to initiate or terminate a transfer ofthe wireless power signal. Furthermore, the power control message mayinstruct the wireless power transmitter 100 to control a characteristicof the wireless power signal.

In exemplary embodiments, the Power reception control unit (or POWERRECEIVING CONTROL UNIT) 292 may transmit the power control messagethrough the wireless power signal. In another exemplary embodiment, thePower reception control unit (or POWER RECEIVING CONTROL UNIT) 292 maytransmit the power control message through a method for transmittinguser data.

In order to transmit the foregoing power control message, the electronicdevice (or wireless power receiver) 200 may further include amodulation/demodulation unit 293 electrically connected to the powerreceiving unit 291. The modulation/demodulation unit 293, similarly tothe case of the wireless power transmitter 100, may be used to transmitthe power control message through the wireless power signal. The powercommunications modulation/demodulation unit 293 may be used as a meansfor controlling a current and/or voltage flowing through the powerconversion unit 111 of the wireless power transmitter 100. Hereinafter,a method for allowing the power communications modulation/demodulationunit 113 or 293 at the side of the wireless power transmitter 100 and atthe side of the electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200,respectively, to be used to transmit and receive a power control messagethrough a wireless power signal will be described.

A wireless power signal formed by the power conversion unit 111 isreceived by the power receiving unit 291. At this time, the Powerreception control unit (or POWER RECEIVING CONTROL UNIT) 292 controlsthe power communications modulation/demodulation unit 293 at the side ofthe electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 to modulate thewireless power signal. For instance, the Power reception control unit(or POWER RECEIVING CONTROL UNIT) 292 may perform a modulation processsuch that a power amount received from the wireless power signal isvaried by changing a reactance of the power communicationsmodulation/demodulation unit 293 connected to the power receiving unit291. The change of a power amount received from the wireless powersignal results in the change of a current and/or voltage of the powerconversion unit 111 for forming the wireless power signal. At this time,the modulation/demodulation unit 113 at the side of the wireless powertransmitter 100 may detect a change of the current and/or voltage toperform a demodulation process.

In other words, the Power reception control unit (or POWER RECEIVINGCONTROL UNIT) 292 may generate a packet including a power controlmessage intended to be transferred to the wireless power transmitter 100and modulate the wireless power signal to allow the packet to beincluded therein, and the power transmission control unit 112 may decodethe packet based on a result of performing the demodulation process ofthe power communications modulation/demodulation unit 113 to acquire thepower control message included in the packet. The detailed method ofallowing the wireless power transmitter 100 to acquire the power controlmessage will be described later with reference to FIGS. 11 through 13.

In addition, the Power reception control unit (or POWER RECEIVINGCONTROL UNIT) 292 may transmit a power control message to the wirelesspower transmitter 100 by transmitting user data including the powercontrol message by a communication means (not shown) included in theelectronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200.

In addition, the power supply unit 290 may further include a charger (orcharging unit) 298 and a battery 299.

The electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 receiving powerfor operation from the power supply unit 290 may be operated by powertransferred from the wireless power transmitter 100, or operated bycharging the battery 299 using the transferred power and then receivingthe charged power. At this time, the Power reception control unit (orPOWER RECEIVING CONTROL UNIT) 292 may control the charger (or chargingunit) 298 to perform charging using the transferred power.

In one exemplary embodiment, the plurality of electronic devices mayreceive power from the wireless power transmitter 100. Here, collisionmay occur between wireless power signal which have been modulated by theplurality of electronic devices. Hence, the constituent elementsincluded in the wireless power transmitter 100 may perform variousoperations to avoid such collision between the modulated wireless powersignal.

In one exemplary embodiment, the power receiving unit 291 may receivethe wireless power signal for the power transmission from the wirelesspower transmitter.

Here, the Power reception control unit (or POWER RECEIVING CONTROL UNIT)292 may control the power receiving unit 291 to transmit a thirdresponse signal corresponding to the wireless power signal after a timeinterval set to a first time within the first response period (Tpinginterval 1).

In one exemplary embodiment, the Power reception control unit (or POWERRECEIVING CONTROL UNIT) 292 may determine whether or not the powertransmission of the wireless power transmitter 100 has been reset due tocollision between the modulated wireless power signal, and set the timeinterval to a second time when the power transmission has been resetaccording to the determination result.

In one exemplary embodiment, the Power reception control unit (or POWERRECEIVING CONTROL UNIT) 292 may control the power receiving unit 291 totransmit a fourth response signal corresponding to the wireless powersignal after the time interval set to the second time within the secondresponse period (Tping interval 2). The second time may be decided by avalue obtained by generating a random number. Hereinafter, a wirelesspower transmitter and an electronic device applicable to the embodimentsdisclosed herein will be described.

First, a method of allowing the wireless power transmitter to transferpower to the electronic device according to the inductive couplingmethod will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 through 5.

FIG. 3—Inductive Coupling Method

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a concept in which power is transferredfrom a wireless power transmitter to an electronic device in a wirelessmanner according to an inductive coupling method.

When the power of the wireless power transmitter 100 is transferred inan inductive coupling method, if the strength of a current flowingthrough a primary coil within the power transmission unit 110 ischanged, then a magnetic field passing through the primary coil will bechanged by the current. The changed magnetic field generates an inducedelectromotive force at a secondary coil in the electronic device (orwireless power receiver) 200.

According to the foregoing method, the power conversion unit 111 of thewireless power transmitter 100 may include a transmitting (Tx) coil 1111a being operated as a primary coil in magnetic induction. Furthermore,the power receiving unit 291 of the electronic device (or wireless powerreceiver) 200 may include a receiving (Rx) coil 2911 a being operated asa secondary coil in magnetic induction.

First, the wireless power transmitter 100 and electronic device (orwireless power receiver) 200 are disposed in such a manner that thetransmitting (Tx) coil 1111 a at the side of the wireless powertransmitter 100 and the receiving coil at the side of the electronicdevice (or wireless power receiver) 200 are located adjacent to eachother. Then, if the power transmission control unit 112 controls acurrent of the transmitting (Tx) coil 1111 a to be changed, then thepower receiving unit 291 controls power to be supplied to the electronicdevice (or wireless power receiver) 200 using an electromotive forceinduced to the receiving (Rx) coil 2911 a.

The efficiency of wireless power transfer by the inductive couplingmethod may be little affected by a frequency characteristic, butaffected by an alignment and distance between the wireless powertransmitter 100 and the electronic device (or wireless power receiver)200 including each coil.

On the other hand, in order to perform wireless power transfer in theinductive coupling method, the wireless power transmitter 100 may beconfigured to include an interface surface (not shown) in the form of aflat surface. One or more electronic devices may be placed at an upperportion of the interface surface, and the transmitting (Tx) coil 1111 amay be mounted at a lower portion of the interface surface. In thiscase, a vertical spacing is formed in a small-scale between thetransmitting (Tx) coil 1111 a mounted at a lower portion of theinterface surface and the receiving (Rx) coil 2911 a of the electronicdevice (or wireless power receiver) 200 placed at an upper portion ofthe interface surface, and thus a distance between the coils becomessufficiently small to efficiently implement contactless power transferby the inductive coupling method.

Furthermore, an alignment indicator (not shown) indicating a locationwhere the electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 is to beplaced at an upper portion of the interface surface. The alignmentindicator indicates a location of the electronic device (or wirelesspower receiver) 200 where an alignment between the transmitting (Tx)coil 1111 a mounted at a lower portion of the interface surface and thereceiving (Rx) coil 2911 a can be suitably implemented. The alignmentindicator may alternatively be simple marks, or may be formed in theform of a protrusion structure for guiding the location of theelectronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200. Otherwise, thealignment indicator may be formed in the form of a magnetic body such asa magnet mounted at a lower portion of the interface surface, therebyguiding the coils to be suitably arranged by mutual magnetism to amagnetic body having an opposite polarity mounted within the electronicdevice (or wireless power receiver) 200.

On the other hand, the wireless power transmitter 100 may be formed toinclude one or more transmitting coils. The wireless power transmitter100 may selectively use some of coils suitably arranged with thereceiving (Rx) coil 2911 a of the electronic device (or wireless powerreceiver) 200 among the one or more transmitting coils to enhance thepower transmission efficiency. The wireless power transmitter 100including the one or more transmitting coils will be described laterwith reference to FIG. 5.

Hereinafter, a configuration of the wireless power transmitter andelectronic device using an inductive coupling method applicable to theembodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail.

FIGS. 4A and 4B—Wireless Power Transmitter and Electronic Device inInductive Coupling Method

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a block diagram illustrating part of the wirelesspower transmitter 100 and electronic device (or wireless power receiver)200 in a magnetic induction method that can be employed in theembodiments disclosed herein. A configuration of the power transmissionunit 110 included in the wireless power transmitter 100 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 4A, and a configuration of the powersupply unit 290 included in the electronic device (or wireless powerreceiver) 200 will be described with reference to FIG. 4B.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the power conversion unit 111 of the wirelesspower transmitter 100 may include a transmitting (Tx) coil 1111 a and aninverter 1112.

The transmitting (Tx) coil 1111 a may form a magnetic fieldcorresponding to the wireless power signal according to a change ofcurrent as described above. The transmitting (Tx) coil 1111 a mayalternatively be implemented with a planar spiral type or cylindricalsolenoid type.

The inverter 1112 transforms a DC input obtained from the power supplyunit 190 into an AC waveform. The AC current transformed by the inverter1112 drives a resonant circuit including the transmitting (Tx) coil 1111a and a capacitor (not shown) to form a magnetic field in thetransmitting (Tx) coil 1111 a.

In addition, the power conversion unit 111 may further include apositioning unit 1114.

The positioning unit 1114 may move or rotate the transmitting (Tx) coil1111 a to enhance the effectiveness of contactless power transfer usingthe inductive coupling method. As described above, it is because analignment and distance between the wireless power transmitter 100 andthe electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 including aprimary coil and a secondary coil may affect power transfer using theinductive coupling method. In particular, the positioning unit 1114 maybe used when the electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 doesnot exist within an active area of the wireless power transmitter 100.

Accordingly, the positioning unit 1114 may include a drive unit (notshown) for moving the transmitting (Tx) coil 1111 a such that acenter-to-center distance of the transmitting (Tx) coil 1111 a of thewireless power transmitter 100 and the receiving (Rx) coil 2911 a of theelectronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 is within apredetermined range, or rotating the transmitting (Tx) coil 1111 a suchthat the centers of the transmitting (Tx) coil 1111 a and the receiving(Rx) coil 2911 a are overlapped with each other.

For this purpose, the wireless power transmitter 100 may further includea detection unit (not shown) made of a sensor for detecting the locationof the electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200, and the powertransmission control unit 112 may control the positioning unit 1114based on the location information of the electronic device (or wirelesspower receiver) 200 received from the location detection sensor.

Furthermore, to this end, the power transmission control unit 112 mayreceive control information on an alignment or distance to theelectronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 through the powercommunications modulation/demodulation unit 113, and control thepositioning unit 1114 based on the received control information on thealignment or distance.

If the power conversion unit 111 is configured to include a plurality oftransmitting coils, then the positioning unit 1114 may determine whichone of the plurality of transmitting coils is to be used for powertransmission. The configuration of the wireless power transmitter 100including the plurality of transmitting coils will be described laterwith reference to FIG. 5.

On the other hand, the power conversion unit 111 may further include apower sensing unit 1115. The power sensing unit 1115 at the side of thewireless power transmitter 100 monitors a current or voltage flowinginto the transmitting (Tx) coil 1111 a. The power sensing unit 1115 isprovided to check whether or not the wireless power transmitter 100 isnormally operated, and thus the power sensing unit 1115 may detect avoltage or current of the power supplied from the outside, and checkwhether the detected voltage or current exceeds a threshold value. Thepower sensing unit 1115, although not shown, may include a resistor fordetecting a voltage or current of the power supplied from the outsideand a comparator for comparing a voltage value or current value of thedetected power with a threshold value to output the comparison result.Based on the check result of the power sensing unit 1115, the powertransmission control unit 112 may control a switching unit (not shown)to cut off power applied to the transmitting (Tx) coil 1111 a.

Referring to FIG. 4B, the power supply unit 290 of the electronic device(or wireless power receiver) 200 may include a receiving (Rx) coil 2911a and a rectifier (or rectifying) circuit 2913.

A current is induced into the receiving (Rx) coil 2911 a by a change ofthe magnetic field formed in the transmitting (Tx) coil 1111 a. Theimplementation type of the receiving (Rx) coil 2911 a may be a planarspiral type or cylindrical solenoid type similarly to the transmitting(Tx) coil 1111 a.

Furthermore, series and parallel capacitors may be configured to beconnected to the receiving (Rx) coil 2911 a to enhance the effectivenessof wireless power reception or perform resonant detection.

The receiving (Rx) coil 2911 a may be in the form of a single coil or aplurality of coils.

The rectifier (or rectifying) circuit 2913 performs a full-waverectification to a current to convert alternating current into directcurrent. The rectifier (or rectifying) circuit 2913, for instance, maybe implemented with a full-bridge rectifier generation circuit made offour diodes or a circuit using active components.

In addition, the rectifier (or rectifying) circuit 2913 may furtherinclude a regulator circuit for converting a rectified current into amore flat and stable direct current. Furthermore, the output power ofthe rectifier (or rectifying) circuit 2913 is supplied to eachconstituent element of the power supply unit 290. Furthermore, therectifier (or rectifying) circuit 2913 may further include a DC-DCconverter for converting output DC power into a suitable voltage toadjust it to the power required for each constituent element (forinstance, a circuit such as a charger (or charging unit) 298).

The power communications modulation/demodulation unit 293 may beconnected to the power receiving unit 291, and may be configured with aresistive element in which resistance varies with respect to directcurrent, and may be configured with a capacitive element in whichreactance varies with respect to alternating current. The Powerreception control unit (or POWER RECEIVING CONTROL UNIT) 292 may changethe resistance or reactance of the power communicationsmodulation/demodulation unit 293 to modulate a wireless power signalreceived to the power receiving unit 291.

On the other hand, the power supply unit 290 may further include a powersensing unit 2914. The power sensing unit 2914 at the side of theelectronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 monitors a voltageand/or current of the power rectified by the rectifier (or rectifying)circuit 2913, and if the voltage and/or current of the rectified powerexceeds a threshold value as a result of monitoring, then the Powerreception control unit (or POWER RECEIVING CONTROL UNIT) 292 transmits apower control message to the wireless power transmitter 100 to transfersuitable power.

FIG. 5—Wireless Power Transmitter Configured to Include One or MoreTransmitting Coils

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless power transmitterconfigured to have one or more transmission coils receiving poweraccording to an inductive coupling method that can be employed in theembodiments disclosed herein.

Referring to FIG. 5, the power conversion unit 111 of the wireless powertransmitter 100 according to the embodiments disclosed herein mayinclude one or more transmitting coils 1111 a-1 to 1111 a-n. The one ormore transmitting coils 1111 a-1 to 1111 a-n may be an array of partlyoverlapping primary coils. An active area may be determined by some ofthe one or more transmitting coils.

The one or more transmitting coils 1111 a-1 to 1111 a-n may be mountedat a lower portion of the interface surface. Furthermore, the powerconversion unit 111 may further include a multiplexer 1113 forestablishing and releasing the connection of some of the one or moretransmitting coils 1111 a-1 to 1111 a-n.

Upon detecting the location of the electronic device (or wireless powerreceiver) 200 placed at an upper portion of the interface surface, thepower transmission control unit 112 may take the detected location ofthe electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 intoconsideration to control the multiplexer 1113, thereby allowing coilsthat can be placed in an inductive coupling relation to the receiving(Rx) coil 2911 a of the electronic device (or wireless power receiver)200 among the one or more transmitting coils 1111 a-1 to 1111 a-n to beconnected to one another.

For this purpose, the power transmission control unit 112 may acquirethe location information of the electronic device (or wireless powerreceiver) 200. For example, the power transmission control unit 112 mayacquire the location of the electronic device (or wireless powerreceiver) 200 on the interface surface by the location detection unit(not shown) provided in the wireless power transmitter 100. For anotherexample, the power transmission control unit 112 may alternativelyreceive a power control message indicating a strength of the wirelesspower signal from an object on the interface surface or a power controlmessage indicating the identification information of the object usingthe one or more transmitting coils 1111 a-1 to 1111 a-n, respectively,and determines whether it is located adjacent to which one of the one ormore transmitting coils based on the received result, thereby acquiringthe location information of the electronic device (or wireless powerreceiver) 200.

On the other hand, the active area as part of the interface surface maydenote a portion through which a magnetic field with a high efficiencycan pass when the wireless power transmitter 100 transfers power to theelectronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 in a wireless manner.At this time, a single transmitting coil or one or a combination of moretransmitting coils forming a magnetic field passing through the activearea may be designated as a primary cell. Accordingly, the powertransmission control unit 112 may determine an active area based on thedetected location of the electronic device (or wireless power receiver)200, and establish the connection of a primary cell corresponding to theactive area to control the multiplexer 1113, thereby allowing thereceiving (Rx) coil 2911 a of the electronic device (or wireless powerreceiver) 200 and the coils belonging to the primary cell to be placedin an inductive coupling relation.

In the meantime, upon disposing one or more electronic devices 200 on aninterface surface of the wireless power transmitter 100, which includesthe one or more transmitting coils 1111 a-1 to 1111 a-n, the powertransmission control unit 112 may control the multiplexer 1113 to allowthe coils belonging to the primary cell corresponding to the position ofeach electronic device to be placed in the inductive coupling relation.Accordingly, the wireless power transmitter 100 may generate thewireless power signal using different coils, thereby transferring it tothe one or more electronic devices in a wireless manner.

Also, the power transmission control unit 112 may set power having adifferent characteristic to be supplied to each of the coilscorresponding to the electronic devices. Here, the wireless powertransmitter 100 may transfer power by differently setting a powertransfer scheme, efficiency, characteristic and the like for eachelectronic device. The power transmission for one or more electronicdevices will be described later with reference to FIG. 28.

Furthermore, the power conversion unit 111 may further include animpedance matching unit (not shown) for controlling an impedance to forma resonant circuit with the coils connected thereto.

Hereinafter, a method for allowing a wireless power transmitter totransfer power according to a resonance coupling method will bedisclosed with reference to FIGS. 6 through 8.

FIG. 6—Resonance Coupling Method

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a concept in which power is transferred toan electronic device from a wireless power transmitter in a wirelessmanner according to an resonance coupling method.

First, resonance will be described in brief as follows. Resonance refersto a phenomenon in which an amplitude of vibration is remarkablyincreased when periodically receiving an external force having the samefrequency as the natural frequency of a vibration system. Resonance is aphenomenon occurring at all kinds of vibrations such as mechanicalvibration, electric vibration, and the like. Generally, when exerting avibratory force to a vibration system from the outside, if the naturalfrequency thereof is the same as a frequency of the externally appliedforce, then the vibration becomes strong, thus increasing the width.

With the same principle, when a plurality of vibrating bodies separatedfrom one another within a predetermined distance vibrate at the samefrequency, the plurality of vibrating bodies resonate with one another,and in this case, resulting in a reduced resistance between theplurality of vibrating bodies. In an electrical circuit, a resonantcircuit can be made by using an inductor and a capacitor.

When the wireless power transmitter 100 transfers power according to theinductive coupling method, a magnetic field having a specific vibrationfrequency is formed by alternating current power in the powertransmission unit 110. If a resonance phenomenon occurs in theelectronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 by the formedmagnetic field, then power is generated by the resonance phenomenon inthe electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200.

Describing a principle of the resonance coupling, in general, a methodfor transferring power by generating an electromagnetic wave exhibitslow power transmission efficiency, and may badly affect human bodies dueto radiation of the electromagnetic waves and exposure to theelectromagnetic waves.

However, if the plurality of vibrating bodies resonate with each otherin an electromagnetic manner as aforementioned, extremely high powertransmission efficiency may be exhibited due to non affection byadjacent objects except for the vibrating bodies. An energy tunnel maybe generated between the plurality of vibrating bodies which resonatewith each other in the electromagnetic manner. This may be referred toas energy coupling or energy tail.

The resonance coupling disclosed herein may use an electromagnetic wavehaving a low frequency. When power is transferred using theelectromagnetic wave having the low frequency, only a magnetic field mayaffect an area located within a single wavelength of the electromagneticwave. The magnetic resonance may be generated when the wireless powertransmitter 100 and the electronic device (or wireless power receiver)200 are located within the single wavelength of the electromagnetic wavehaving the low frequency.

Here, in general, human bodies are sensitive to an electric field buttolerant to a magnetic field. Hence, when power is transferred using amagnetic resonance, the human bodies may be badly affected due to beingexposed to the electromagnetic wave. Also, as the energy tail isgenerated in response to the resonance phenomenon, the form of powertransmission may exhibit a non-radiative property. Consequently, upontransferring power using such electromagnetic wave, a radiative problemwhich occurs frequently may be solved.

The resonance coupling method may be a method for transferring powerusing the electromagnetic wave with the low frequency, asaforementioned. Thus, the transmitting (Tx) coil 1111 b of the wirelesspower transmitter 100 may form a magnetic field or electromagnetic wavefor transferring power in principle. However, the resonance couplingmethod will be described hereinafter from the perspective of a magneticresonance, namely, a power transmission by a magnetic field.

The resonant frequency may be determined by the following formula inEquation 1.

$\begin{matrix}{f = \frac{1}{2\; \pi \sqrt{LC}}} & \left\lbrack {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 1} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

Here, the resonant frequency (f) is determined by an inductance (L) anda capacitance (C) in a circuit. In a circuit forming a magnetic fieldusing a coil, the inductance can be determined by a number of turns ofthe coil, and the like, and the capacitance can be determined by a gapbetween the coils, an area, and the like. In addition to the coil, acapacitive resonant circuit may be configured to be connected thereto todetermine the resonant frequency.

Referring to FIG. 6, when power is transmitted in a wireless manneraccording to the resonance coupling method, the power conversion unit111 of the wireless power transmitter 100 may include a transmitting(Tx) coil 1111 b in which a magnetic field is formed and a resonantcircuit (or RESONANT GENERATION CIRCUIT) 1116 connected to thetransmitting (Tx) coil 1111 b to determine a specific vibrationfrequency. The resonant circuit (or RESONANT GENERATION CIRCUIT) 1116may be implemented by using a capacitive circuit (capacitors), and thespecific vibration frequency may be determined based on an inductance ofthe transmitting (Tx) coil 1111 b and a capacitance of the resonantcircuit (or RESONANT GENERATION CIRCUIT) 1116.

The configuration of a circuit element of the resonant circuit (orRESONANT GENERATION CIRCUIT) 1116 may be implemented in various formssuch that the power conversion unit 111 forms a magnetic field, and isnot limited to a form of being connected in parallel to the transmitting(Tx) coil 1111 b as illustrated in FIG. 6.

Furthermore, the power receiving unit 291 of the electronic device (orwireless power receiver) 200 may include a resonant circuit (or RESONANTGENERATION CIRCUIT) 2912 and a receiving (Rx) coil 2911 b to generate aresonance phenomenon by a magnetic field formed in the wireless powertransmitter 100. In other words, the resonant circuit (or RESONANTGENERATION CIRCUIT) 2912 may be also implemented by using a capacitivecircuit, and the resonant circuit (or RESONANT GENERATION CIRCUIT) 2912is configured such that a resonant frequency determined based on aninductance of the receiving coil 2911 b and a capacitance of theresonant circuit (or RESONANT GENERATION CIRCUIT) 2912 has the samefrequency as a resonant frequency of the formed magnetic field.

The configuration of a circuit element of the resonant circuit (orRESONANT GENERATION CIRCUIT) 2912 may be implemented in various formssuch that the power receiving unit 291 generates resonance by a magneticfield, and is not limited to a form of being connected in series to thereceiving coil 2911 b as illustrated in FIG. 6.

The specific vibration frequency in the wireless power transmitter 100may have L_(TX), C_(TX), and may be acquired by using the Equation 1.Here, the electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 generatesresonance when a result of substituting the L_(RX) and C_(RX) of theelectronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 to the Equation 1 issame as the specific vibration frequency.

According to a contactless power transfer method by resonance coupling,when the wireless power transmitter 100 and electronic device (orwireless power receiver) 200 resonate at the same frequency,respectively, an electromagnetic wave is propagated through ashort-range magnetic field, and thus there exists no energy transferbetween the devices if they have different frequencies.

As a result, an efficiency of contactless power transfer by theresonance coupling method is greatly affected by a frequencycharacteristic, whereas the effect of an alignment and distance betweenthe wireless power transmitter 100 and the electronic device (orwireless power receiver) 200 including each coil is relatively smallerthan the inductive coupling method.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a wireless power transmitter and anelectronic device in the resonance coupling method applicable to theembodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail.

FIGS. 7A and 7B—Wireless Power Transmitter in Resonance Coupling Method

FIGS. 7A and 7B is a block diagram illustrating part of the wirelesspower transmitter 100 and electronic device (or wireless power receiver)200 in a resonance method that can be employed in the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

A configuration of the power transmission unit 110 included in thewireless power transmitter 100 will be described with reference to FIG.7A.

The power conversion unit 111 of the wireless power transmitter 100 mayinclude a transmitting (Tx) coil 1111 b, an inverter 1112, and aresonant circuit (or RESONANT GENERATION CIRCUIT) 1116. The inverter1112 may be configured to be connected to the transmitting (Tx) coil1111 b and the resonant circuit (or RESONANT GENERATION CIRCUIT) 1116.

The transmitting (Tx) coil 1111 b may be mounted separately from thetransmitting (Tx) coil 1111 a for transferring power according to theinductive coupling method, but may transfer power in the inductivecoupling method and resonance coupling method using one single coil.

The transmitting (Tx) coil 1111 b, as described above, forms a magneticfield for transferring power. The transmitting (Tx) coil 1111 b and theresonant circuit (or RESONANT GENERATION CIRCUIT) 1116 generateresonance when alternating current power is applied thereto, and at thistime, a vibration frequency may be determined based on an inductance ofthe transmitting (Tx) coil 1111 b and a capacitance of the resonantcircuit (or RESONANT GENERATION CIRCUIT) 1116.

For this purpose, the inverter 1112 transforms a DC input obtained fromthe power supply unit 190 into an AC waveform, and the transformed ACcurrent is applied to the transmitting (Tx) coil 1111 b and the resonantcircuit (or RESONANT GENERATION CIRCUIT) 1116.

In addition, the power conversion unit 111 may further include afrequency adjustment unit 1117 for changing a resonant frequency of thepower conversion unit 111. The resonant frequency of the powerconversion unit 111 is determined based on an inductance and/orcapacitance within a circuit constituting the power conversion unit 111by Equation 1, and thus the power transmission control unit 112 maydetermine the resonant frequency of the power conversion unit 111 bycontrolling the frequency adjustment unit 1117 to change the inductanceand/or capacitance.

The frequency adjustment unit 1117, for example, may be configured toinclude a motor for adjusting a distance between capacitors included inthe resonant circuit (or RESONANT GENERATION CIRCUIT) 1116 to change acapacitance, or include a motor for adjusting a number of turns ordiameter of the transmitting (Tx) coil 1111 b to change an inductance,or include active elements for determining the capacitance and/orinductance

On the other hand, the power conversion unit 111 may further include apower sensing unit 1115. The operation of the power sensing unit 1115 isthe same as the foregoing description.

Referring to FIG. 7B, a configuration of the power supply unit 290included in the electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 willbe described. The power supply unit 290, as described above, may includethe receiving (Rx) coil 2911 b and resonant circuit (or RESONANTGENERATION CIRCUIT) 2912.

In addition, the power receiving unit 291 of the power supply unit 290may further include a rectifier (or rectifying) circuit 2913 forconverting an AC current generated by resonance phenomenon into DC. Therectifier (or rectifying) circuit 2913 may be configured similarly tothe foregoing description.

Furthermore, the power receiving unit 291 may further include a powersensing unit 2914 for monitoring a voltage and/or current of therectified power. The power sensing unit 2914 may be configured similarlyto the foregoing description.

FIG. 8—Wireless Power Transmitter Configured to Include One or MoreTransmitting Coils

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless power transmitterconfigured to have one or more transmission coils receiving poweraccording to an resonance coupling method that can be employed in theembodiments disclosed herein.

Referring to FIG. 8, the power conversion unit 111 of the wireless powertransmitter 100 according to the embodiments disclosed herein mayinclude one or more transmitting coils 1111 b-1 to 1111 b-n and resonant(or RESONANT GENERATION) circuits (1116-1 to 1116-n) connected to eachtransmitting coils. Furthermore, the power conversion unit 111 mayfurther include a multiplexer 1113 for establishing and releasing theconnection of some of the one or more transmitting coils 1111 b-1 to1111 b-n.

The one or more transmitting coils 1111 b-1 to 1111 b-n may beconfigured to have the same vibration frequency, or some of them may beconfigured to have different vibration frequencies. It is determined byan inductance and/or capacitance of the resonant (or RESONANTGENERATION) circuits (1116-1 to 1116-n) connected to the one or moretransmitting coils 1111 b-1 to 1111 b-n, respectively.

In the meantime, when one or more electronic devices 200 are disposed inan active area or a detection area of the wireless power transmitter 100including the one or more transmitting coils 1111 b-1 to 1111 b-n, thepower transmission control unit 112 may control the multiplexer 1113 toallow the electronic devices to be placed in different resonancecoupling relations. Accordingly, the wireless power transmitter 100 maywirelessly transfer power to the one or more electronic devices bygenerating the wireless power signal using different coils.

In addition, the power transmission control unit 112 may set power witha different characteristic to be supplied to each of the coilscorresponding to the electronic devices. Here, the wireless powertransmitter 100 may transfer power by differently setting a powertransmission scheme, a resonant frequency, efficiency, a characteristicand the like for each electronic device. The power transmission for oneor more electronic devices will be described later with reference toFIG. 28. For this purpose, the frequency adjustment unit 1117 may beconfigured to change an inductance and/or capacitance of the resonantcircuits (1116-1 to 1116-n) connected to the one or more transmittingcoils 1111 b-1 to 1111 b-n, respectively.

FIG. 9—Wireless Power Transmitter Implemented by Charger

On the other hand, hereinafter, an example of the wireless powertransmitter implemented in the form of a wireless charger will bedescribed.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless power transmitterfurther including an additional element in addition to the configurationillustrated in FIG. 2A.

Referring to FIG. 9, the wireless power transmitter 100 may furtherinclude a sensor unit 120, a communication unit 130, an output unit 140,a memory 150, and a control unit (or Controller) 180 in addition to thepower transmission unit 110 and power supply unit 190 for supporting atleast one of the foregoing inductive coupling method and resonancecoupling method.

The control unit (or Controller) 180 controls the power transmissionunit 110, the sensor unit 120, the communication unit 130, the outputunit 140, the memory 150, and the power supply unit 190.

The control unit (or Controller) 180 may be implemented by a moduleseparated from the power transmission control unit 112 in the powertransmission unit 110 described with reference to FIG. 2 or may beimplemented by a single module.

The sensor unit 120 may include a sensor for detecting the location ofthe electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200. The locationinformation detected by the sensor unit 120 may be used for allowing thepower transmission unit 110 to transfer power in an efficient manner.

For instance, in case of wireless power transfer according to theinductive coupling method, the sensor unit 120 may be operated as adetection unit, and the location information detected by the sensor unit120 may be used to move or rotate the transmitting (Tx) coil 1111 a inthe power transmission unit 110.

Furthermore, for example, the wireless power transmitter 100 configuredto include the foregoing one or more transmitting coils may determinecoils that can be placed in an inductive coupling relation or resonancecoupling relation to the receiving coil of the electronic device (orwireless power receiver) 200 among the one or more transmitting coilsbased on the location information of the electronic device (or wirelesspower receiver) 200.

On the other hand, the sensor unit 120 may be configured to monitorwhether or not the electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200approaches a chargeable region. The approach or non-approach detectionfunction of the sensor unit 120 may be carried out separately from thefunction of allowing the power transmission control unit 112 in thepower transmission unit 110 to detect the approach or non-approach ofthe electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200.

The communication unit 130 performs wired or wireless data communicationwith the electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200. Thecommunication unit 130 may include an electronic component for at leastany one of Bluetooth™, Zigbee, Ultra Wide Band (UWB), Wireless USB, NearField Communication (NFC), and Wireless LAN.

The output unit 140 may include at least one of a display unit 141 andan audio output unit (or SOUND OUTPUT UNIT) 142. The display unit 141may include at least one of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin filmtransistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), an organic light-emittingdiode (OLED), a flexible display, and a three-dimensional (3D) display.The display unit 141 may display a charging state under the control ofthe control unit (or Controller) 180.

The memory 150 may include at least one storage medium of a flash memorytype, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory(e.g., SD or XD memory), a random access memory (RAM), a static randomaccess memory (SRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electrically erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EEPROM), a programmable read-only memory(PROM), a magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, and thelike. The wireless power transmitter 100 may operate in association witha web storage performing the storage function of the memory 150 on theInternet. A program or commands performing the foregoing functions ofthe wireless power transmitter 100 may be stored in the memory 150. Thecontrol unit (or Controller) 180 may perform the program or commandsstored in the memory 150 to transmit power in a wireless manner. Amemory controller (not shown) may be used to allow other constituentelements (e.g., control unit (or Controller) 180) included in thewireless power transmitter 100 to access the memory 150.

However, it would be easily understood by those skilled in the art thatthe configuration of a wireless power transmitter according to theembodiment disclosed herein may be applicable to an apparatus, such as adocking station, a terminal cradle device, and an electronic device, andthe like, excluding a case where it is applicable to only a wirelesscharger.

FIG. 10—Wireless Power Receiver Implemented with Mobile Terminal

FIG. 10 is view illustrating a configuration in case where an electronicdevice (or wireless power receiver) 200 according to the embodimentsdisclosed herein is implemented in the form of a mobile terminal.

The mobile communication terminal 200 may include a power supply unit290 illustrated in FIG. 2, 4, or 7.

Furthermore, the terminal 200 may further include a wirelesscommunication unit 210, an Audio/Video (A/V) input unit 220, a userinput unit 230, a sensing unit 240, an output unit 250, a memory 260, aninterface unit 270, and a controller 280. FIG. 10 illustrates theterminal 100 having various components, but it is understood thatimplementing all of the illustrated components is not a requirement.Greater or fewer components may alternatively be implemented.

Hereinafter, each component is described in sequence.

The wireless communication unit 210 may typically include one or moremodules which permit wireless communications between the terminal 200and a wireless communication system or between the terminal 200 and anetwork within which the terminal 200 is located. For example, thewireless communication unit 210 may include a broadcast receiving module211, a mobile communication module 212, a wireless internet module 213,a short-range communication module 214, a position location module 215and the like.

The broadcast receiving module 211 receives a broadcast signal and/orbroadcast associated information from an external broadcast managingentity via a broadcast channel.

The broadcast channel may include a satellite channel and a terrestrialchannel. The broadcast center may indicate a server which generates andtransmits a broadcast signal and/or broadcast associated information ora server which receives a pre-generated broadcast signal and/orbroadcast associated information and sends them to the portableterminal. The broadcast signal may be implemented as a TV broadcastsignal, a radio broadcast signal, and a data broadcast signal, amongothers. The broadcast signal may further include a data broadcast signalcombined with a TV or radio broadcast signal.

Examples of broadcast associated information may denote informationassociated with a broadcast channel, a broadcast program, a broadcastservice provider, and the like. The broadcast associated information maybe provided via a mobile communication network. In this case, it may bereceived by the mobile communication module 212.

The broadcast associated information may be implemented in variousformats. For instance, broadcast associated information may includeElectronic Program Guide (EPG) of Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB),Electronic Service Guide (ESG) of Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld(DVB-H), and the like.

The broadcast receiving module 211 may be configured to receive digitalbroadcast signals transmitted from various types of broadcast systems.Such broadcast systems may include Digital MultimediaBroadcasting-Terrestrial (DMB-T), Digital MultimediaBroadcasting-Satellite (DMB-S), Media Forward Link Only (MediaFLO),Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld (DVB-H), Integrated Services DigitalBroadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) and the like. The broadcast receivingmodule 211 may be configured to be suitable for every broadcast systemtransmitting broadcast signals as well as the digital broadcastingsystems.

Broadcast signals and/or broadcast associated information received viathe broadcast receiving module 211 may be stored in a suitable device,such as a memory 260.

The mobile communication module 212 transmits/receives wireless signalsto/from at least any one of a base station, an external portableterminal, and a server on a mobile communication network. The wirelesssignal may include audio call signal, video (telephony) call signal, orvarious formats of data according to transmission/reception oftext/multimedia messages.

The wireless internet module 213 supports wireless Internet access forthe mobile terminal 200. This module may be internally or externallycoupled to the terminal 100. Examples of such wireless Internet accessmay include Wireless LAN (WLAN) (Wi-Fi), Wireless Broadband (Wibro),Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wimax), High SpeedDownlink Packet Access (HSDPA) and the like.

The short-range communication module 214 denotes a module forshort-range communications. Suitable technologies for implementing thismodule may include Bluetooth, Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID),Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra-WideBand (UWB), ZigBee, and thelike. On the other hand, Universal Serial Bus (USB), IEEE 1394,Thunderbolt of Intel technology, and the like, may be used for wiredshort-range communication.

The wireless internet module 213 or the short-range communication module214 may establish data communication connection to the wireless powertransmitter 100.

Through the established data communication, when there is an audiosignal to be outputted while transferring power in a wireless manner,the wireless internet module 213 or the short-range communication module214 may transmit the audio signal to the wireless power transmitter 100through the short-range communication module. Furthermore, through theestablished data communication, when there is information to bedisplayed, the wireless internet module 213 or the short-rangecommunication module 214 may transmit the information to the wirelesspower transmitter 100. Otherwise, the wireless internet module 213 orthe short-range communication module 214 may transmit an audio signalreceived through a microphone integrated in the wireless powertransmitter 100. Furthermore, the wireless internet module 213 or theshort-range communication module 214 may transmit the identificationinformation (e.g., phone number or device name in case of a portablephone) of the mobile terminal 200 to the wireless power transmitter 100through the established data communication.

The position location module 215 is a module for acquiring a position ofthe terminal. An example of the position location module 215 may includea Global Position System (GPS) module.

Referring to FIG. 10, the A/V input unit 220 is configured to provideaudio or video signal input to the portable terminal. The A/V input unit220 may include a camera 221 and a microphone 222. The camera 221processes image frames of still or moving images obtained by an imagesensor in a video call mode or a capture more. The processed imageframes may be displayed on the display unit 251.

The image frames processed by the camera 221 may be stored in the memory260 or transmitted to the exterior via the wireless communication unit210. Two or more cameras 221 may be provided therein according to theuse environment.

The microphone 222 may receive an external audio signal by a microphonein a phone call mode, a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, or thelike to process it into electrical audio data. The processed audio datais converted and outputted into a format transmittable to a mobilecommunication base station via the mobile communication module 212 incase of the phone call mode. The microphone 222 may include variousnoise removal algorithms to remove noises generated while receiving theexternal audio signal.

The user input unit 230 may generate input data to allow the user tocontrol the operation of the terminal. The user input unit 230 mayinclude a keypad, a dome switch, a touchpad (e.g., staticpressure/capacitance), a jog wheel, a jog switch and the like.

The sensing unit 240 may include a proximity sensor 241, a pressuresensor 242, a motion sensor 243, and the like. The proximity sensor 241detects an object approaching the mobile terminal 200, or the presenceor absence of an object existing adjacent to the mobile terminal 200,and the like without any mechanical contact. The proximity sensor 241may detect a proximity object using a change of the AC magnetic field orstatic magnetic field, a change rate of the electrostatic capacity, orthe like. Two or more proximity sensors 241 may be provided according tothe aspect of configuration.

The pressure sensor 242 may detect whether or not a pressure is appliedto the mobile terminal 200, a size of the pressure, and the like. Thepressure sensor 242 may be provided at a portion where the detection ofa pressure is required in the mobile terminal 200 according to the useenvironment. When the pressure sensor 242 is provided in the displayunit 251, it may be possible to identify a touch input through thedisplay unit 251 and a pressure touch input by which a pressure largerthan the touch input is applied according to a signal outputted from thepressure sensor 242. Furthermore, it may be possible to know a size ofthe pressure applied to the display unit 251 during the input of apressure touch.

The motion sensor 243 detects the location or movement of the mobileterminal 200 using an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, and the like.The acceleration sensor used in the motion sensor 243 is an element forconverting an acceleration change in any one direction into anelectrical signal. Two or three axes are typically integrated into apackage to constitute an acceleration sensor, and only one Z-axis may berequired according to the use environment. Accordingly, when anacceleration sensor in the direction of X-axis or Y-axis should be usedinstead of the direction of Z-axis due to any reason, the accelerationsensor may be erected and mounted on a main substrate using a separatepiece substrate. Furthermore, the gyro sensor is a sensor for measuringan angular speed of the mobile terminal 200 in a rotational movement todetect a rotated angle with respect to each reference direction. Forinstance, the gyro sensor may detect each rotational angle, i.e.,azimuth, pitch and roll, with reference to three directional axes.

The output unit 250 is provided to output visual, auditory, or tactileinformation. The output unit 250 may include a display unit 251, anaudio output module 252, an alarm unit 253, a haptic module 254, and thelike.

The display unit 251 may display (output) information processed in theterminal 200. For example, when the terminal is in a phone call mode,the display unit 251 will provide a User Interface (UI) or Graphic UserInterface (GUI) associated with the call. When the terminal is in avideo call mode or a capture mode, the display unit 251 may displayimages captured and/or received, UI, or GUI.

The display unit 251 may include at least one of a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD),an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a flexible display, athree-dimensional (3D) display, and the like.

Some of those displays may be configured as a transparent type or anlight transmission type through which the outside is visible, which isreferred to as a transparent display. A representative example of thetransparent display may include a Transparent OLED (TOLED), or the like.The rear surface of the display unit 151 may also be implemented to beoptically transparent. Under this configuration, the user can view anobject positioned at a rear side of the terminal body through a regionoccupied by the display unit 251 of the terminal body.

The display unit 251 may be implemented in two or more in numberaccording to a configured aspect of the terminal 200. For instance, aplurality of the display units 251 may be arranged on one surface to bespaced apart from or integrated with each other, or may be arranged ondifferent surfaces.

Here, if the display unit 251 and a touch sensitive sensor (referred toas a touch sensor) have a layered structure therebetween, the displayunit 251 may be used as an input device rather than an output device.The touch sensor may be implemented as a touch film, a touch sheet, atouch pad, and the like.

The touch sensor may be configured to convert changes of a pressureapplied to a specific part of the display unit 251, or a capacitanceoccurring from a specific part of the display unit 251, into electricinput signals. Also, the touch sensor may be configured to sense notonly a touched position and a touched area, but also a touch pressure.

When touch inputs are sensed by the touch sensors, corresponding signalsare sent to a touch controller. The touch controller processes thereceived signals, and then transmits corresponding data to thecontroller 280. Accordingly, the controller 280 may sense which regionof the display unit 151 has been touched.

The proximity sensor 241 may be arranged at an inner region of theterminal covered by the touch screen, or near the touch screen. Theproximity sensor refers to a sensor to sense the presence or absence ofan object approaching a surface to be sensed, or an object disposed neara surface to be sensed, using an electromagnetic field or infrared rayswithout a mechanical contact. The proximity sensor has a longer lifespanand a more enhanced utility than a contact sensor.

The proximity sensor may include a transmissive type photoelectricsensor, a direct reflective type photoelectric sensor, a mirrorreflective type photoelectric sensor, a high-frequency oscillationproximity sensor, a capacitance type proximity sensor, a magnetic typeproximity sensor, an infrared rays proximity sensor, and so on. When thetouch screen is implemented as a capacitance type, proximity of apointer to the touch screen is sensed by changes of an electromagneticfield. In this case, the touch screen (touch sensor) may be categorizedinto a proximity sensor.

Hereinafter, for the sake of brief explanation, a status that thepointer is positioned to be proximate onto the touch screen withoutcontact will be referred to as a “proximity touch”, whereas a statusthat the pointer substantially comes in contact with the touch screenwill be referred to as a “contact touch”. For the position correspondingto the proximity touch of the pointer on the touch screen, such positioncorresponds to a position where the pointer faces perpendicular to thetouch screen upon the proximity touch of the pointer.

The proximity sensor senses proximity touch, and proximity touchpatterns (e.g., distance, direction, speed, time, position, movingstatus, etc.). Information relating to the sensed proximity touch andthe sensed proximity touch patterns may be output onto the touch screen.

The audio output module 252 may output audio data received from thewireless communication unit 210 or stored in the memory 260, in acall-receiving mode, a call-placing mode, a recording mode, a voicerecognition mode, a broadcast reception mode, and so on. The audiooutput module 252 may output audio signals relating to functionsperformed in the terminal 200, e.g., sound alarming a call received or amessage received, and so on. The audio output module 252 may include areceiver, a speaker, a buzzer, and so on.

The alarm 253 outputs signals notifying the occurrence of an event fromthe terminal 200. The event occurring from the terminal 100 may includecall received, message received, key signal input, touch input, and soon. The alarm 253 may output not only video or audio signals, but alsoother types of signals such as signals notifying occurrence of events ina vibration manner. Since the video or audio signals can be outputthrough the display unit 251 or the audio output unit 252, the displayunit 251 and the audio output module 252 may be categorized into part ofthe alarm 253.

The haptic module 254 generates various tactile effects which a user canfeel. A representative example of the tactile effects generated by thehaptic module 254 includes vibration. Vibration generated by the hapticmodule 254 may have a controllable intensity, a controllable pattern,and so on. For instance, different vibration may be output in asynthesized manner or in a sequential manner.

The haptic module 254 may generate various tactile effects, includingnot only vibration, but also arrangement of pins vertically moving withrespect to a skin being contacted, air injection force or air suctionforce through an injection hole or a suction hole, touch by a skinsurface, presence or absence of contact with an electrode, effects bystimulus such as an electrostatic force, reproduction of cold or hotfeeling using a heat absorbing device or a heat emitting device, and thelike.

The haptic module 254 may be configured to transmit tactile effectsthrough the user's direct contact, or the user's muscular sense using afinger or a hand. The haptic module 254 may be implemented in two ormore in number according to the configuration of the terminal 200.

The memory 260 may store a program for the processing and control of thecontroller 280. Alternatively, the memory 260 may temporarily storeinput/output data (e.g., phonebook data, messages, still images, videoand the like). Also, the memory 260 may store data related to variouspatterns of vibrations and audio output upon the touch input on thetouch screen.

In some embodiments, software components including an operating system(not shown), a module performing a wireless communication unit 210function, a module operating together with the user input unit 230, amodule operating together with the A/V input unit 220, a moduleoperating together with the output unit 250 may be stored in the memory260. The operating system (e.g., LINUX, UNIX, OS X, WINDOWS, Chrome,Symbian, iOS, Android, VxWorks, or other embedded operating systems) mayinclude various software components and/or drivers to control systemtasks such as memory management, power management, and the like.

In addition, the memory 260 may store a setup program associated withcontactless power transfer or wireless charging. The setup program maybe implemented by the controller 280.

Furthermore, the memory 260 may store an application associated withcontactless power transfer (or wireless charging) downloaded from anapplication providing server (for example, an app store). The wirelesscharging related application is a program for controlling wirelesscharging transmission, and thus the electronic device (or wireless powerreceiver) 200 may receive power from the wireless power transmitter 100in a wireless manner or establish connection for data communication withthe wireless power transmitter 100 through the relevant program.

The memory 260 may be implemented using any type of suitable storagemedium including a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimediacard micro type, a memory card type (e.g., SD or xD memory), a randomaccess memory (RAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a read-onlymemory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory(EEPROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), a magnetic memory, amagnetic disk, an optical disk, and the like. Also, the terminal 200 maybe operated in association with a web storage performing the storagefunction of the memory 160 on the Internet.

The interface unit 270 may generally be implemented to interface theportable terminal with all external devices. The interface unit 270 mayallow a data reception from an external device, a power delivery to eachcomponent in the terminal 200, or a data transmission from the terminal200 to an external device. The interface unit 270 may include, forexample, wired/wireless headset ports, external charger ports,wired/wireless data ports, memory card ports, ports for coupling deviceshaving an identification module, audio input/output (I/O) ports, videoinput/output (I/O) ports, earphone ports, and the like.

The identification module may be configured as a chip for storingvarious information required to authenticate an authority to use theterminal 200, which may include a User Identity Module (UIM), aSubscriber Identity Module (SIM), and the like. Also, the device havingthe identification module (hereinafter, referred to as “identificationdevice”) may be implemented in a type of smart card. Hence, theidentification device can be coupled to the terminal 200 via a port.

Also, the interface unit may serve as a path for power to be suppliedfrom an external cradle to the terminal 200 when the terminal 100 isconnected to the external cradle or as a path for transferring variouscommand signals inputted from the cradle by a user to the terminal 200.Such various command signals or power inputted from the cradle mayoperate as signals for recognizing that the terminal 200 has accuratelybeen mounted to the cradle.

The controller 280 typically controls the overall operations of theterminal 200. For example, the controller 280 performs the control andprocessing associated with telephony calls, data communications, videocalls, and the like. The controller 280 may include a multimedia module281 for multimedia playback. The multimedia module 281 may beimplemented within the controller 280, or implemented separately fromthe controller 280.

The controller 280 can perform a pattern recognition processing so as torecognize a writing input or image drawing input carried out on thetouch screen as a text or image.

The controller 280 performs wired or wireless charging according to theuser input or internal input. Here, the internal input represents asignal for notifying that an induced current generated from a secondarycoil within the terminal has been detected.

When the foregoing wireless charging is carried out, an operation ofallowing the controller 280 to control each constituent element will bedescribed in detail below with reference to the operation phase in FIG.14. As described above, the Power reception control unit (or POWERRECEIVING CONTROL UNIT) 292 within the power supply unit 290 may beimplemented to be included in the controller 280, and in the presentdisclosure, it should be understood that the controller 280 performs theoperation by the Power reception control unit (or POWER RECEIVINGCONTROL UNIT) 292.

The power supply unit 290 receives internal and external power under thecontrol of the controller 280 to supply power required for the operationof each constituent element.

The power supply unit 290 is provided with a battery 299 for supplyingpower to each constituent element of the terminal 200, and the battery299 may include a charger (or charging unit) 298 for performing wired orwireless charging.

The present disclosure discloses a mobile terminal as an example of theapparatus for receiving power in a wireless manner, but it would beeasily understood by those skilled in the art that the configurationaccording to the embodiment disclosed herein may be applicable to astationary terminal, such as a digital TV, a desktop computer, and thelike, excluding a case where it is applicable to only the mobileterminal.

FIGS. 11A and 11B—Backscatter Modulation

FIGS. 11A and 11B is a view illustrating the concept of transmitting andreceiving a packet between a wireless power transmitter and anelectronic device through the modulation and demodulation of a wirelesspower signal in transferring power in a wireless manner disclosedherein.

Referring to FIG. 11A, the wireless power signal formed by the powerconversion unit 111 forms a closed-loop within a magnetic field orelectromagnetic field, and therefore, when the electronic device (orwireless power receiver) 200 modulates the wireless power signal whilereceiving the wireless power signal, the wireless power transmitter 100may detect the modulated wireless power signal. The power communicationsmodulation/demodulation unit 113 may demodulate the detected wirelesspower signal, and decodes the packet from the modulated wireless powersignal.

On the other hand, a modulation method used for communication betweenthe wireless power transmitter 100 and the electronic device (orwireless power receiver) 200 may be amplitude modulation. As describedabove, the amplitude modulation method may be a backscatter modulationmethod in which the power communications modulation/demodulation unit293 at the side of the electronic device (or wireless power receiver)200 changes an amplitude of the wireless power signal 10 a formed by thepower conversion unit 111 and the Power reception control unit (or POWERRECEIVING CONTROL UNIT) 292 at the side of the wireless powertransmitter 100 detects an amplitude of the modulated wireless powersignal 10 b.

Specifically, further referring to FIG. 11B, the Power reception controlunit (or POWER RECEIVING CONTROL UNIT) 292 at the side of the electronicdevice (or wireless power receiver) 200 modulates the wireless powersignal 10 a received through the power receiving unit 291 by changing aload impedance within the power communications modulation/demodulationunit 293. The Power reception control unit (or POWER RECEIVING CONTROLUNIT) 292 modulates the wireless power signal 10 a to include a packetincluding a power control message to be transmitted to the wirelesspower transmitter 100.

Then, the power transmission control unit 112 at the side of thewireless power transmitter 100 demodulates the modulated wireless powersignal 10 b through an envelope detection process, and decodes thedetected signal 10 c into digital data 10 d. The demodulation processdetects a current or voltage flowing into the power conversion unit 111to be classified into two states, a HI phase and a LO phase, andacquires a packet to be transmitted by the electronic device (orwireless power receiver) 200 based on digital data classified accordingto the states.

Hereinafter, a process of allowing the wireless power transmitter 100 toacquire a power control message to be transmitted by the electronicdevice (or wireless power receiver) 200 from the demodulated digitaldata will be described.

FIGS. 12A and 12B—Bit Encoding, Byte Format

FIGS. 12A and 12B is a view illustrating a method of showing data bitsand byte constituting a power control message provided by the wirelesspower transmitter 100.

Referring to FIG. 12A, the power transmission control unit 112 detectsan encoded bit using a clock signal (CLK) from an envelope detectedsignal. The detected encoded bit is encoded according to a bit encodingmethod used in the modulation process at the side of the electronicdevice (or wireless power receiver) 200. The bit encoding method maycorrespond to any one of non-return to zero (NRZ) and bi-phase encoding.

For instance, the detected bit may be a differential bi-phase (DBP)encoded bit. According to the DBP encoding, the Power reception controlunit (or POWER RECEIVING CONTROL UNIT) 292 at the side of the electronicdevice (or wireless power receiver) 200 is allowed to have two statetransitions to encode data bit 1, and to have one state transition toencode data bit 0. In other words, data bit 1 may be encoded in such amanner that a transition between the HI state and LO state is generatedat a rising edge and falling edge of the clock signal, and data bit 0may be encoded in such a manner that a transition between the HI stateand LO state is generated at a rising edge of the clock signal.

On the other hand, the power transmission control unit 112 may acquiredata in a byte unit using a byte format constituting a packet from a bitstring detected according to the bit encoding method. For instance, thedetected bit string may be transferred by using an 11-bit asynchronousserial format as illustrated in FIG. 12B. In other words, the detectedbit may include a start bit indicating the beginning of a byte and astop bit indicating the end of a byte, and also include data bits (b0 tob7) between the start bit and the stop bit. Furthermore, it may furtherinclude a parity bit for checking an error of data. The data in a byteunit constitutes a packet including a power control message.

FIG. 13—Packet Format

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a packet including a power controlmessage used in a contactless power transfer method according to theembodiments disclosed herein.

The packet 500 may include a preamble 510, a header 520, a message 530,and a checksum 540.

The preamble 510 may be used to perform synchronization with datareceived by the wireless power transmitter 100 and detect the start bitof the header 520. The preamble 510 may be configured to repeat the samebit. For instance, the preamble 510 may be configured such that data bit1 according to the DBP encoding is repeated eleven to twenty five times.

The header 520 may be used to indicate a type of the packet 500. A sizeof the message 530 and the kind thereof may be determined based on avalue indicated by the header 520. The header 520 is a value having apredetermined size to be positioned subsequent to the preamble 510. Forinstance, the header 520 may be a byte in size.

The message 530 may be configured to include data determined based onthe header 520. The message 530 has a predetermined size according tothe kind thereof.

The checksum 540 may be used to detect an error that can be occurred inthe header 520 and the message 530 while transmitting a power controlmessage. The header 520 and the message 530 excluding the preamble 510for synchronization and the checksum 540 for error checking may bereferred to as command-packet.

FIG. 14—Operation Phases

Hereinafter, description will be given of operation phases of thewireless power transmitter 100 and the electronic device (or wirelesspower receiver) 200.

FIG. 14 illustrates the operation phases of the wireless powertransmitter 100 and electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200according to the embodiments disclosed herein. Furthermore, FIGS. 15through 20 illustrates the structure of packets including a powercontrol message between the wireless power transmitter 100 andelectronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200.

Referring to FIG. 14, the operation phases of the wireless powertransmitter 100 and the electronic device (or wireless power receiver)200 for wireless power transfer may be divided into a selection phase(or state) 610, a ping phase (or state) 620, an identification andconfiguration phase (or state) 630, and a power transfer phase (orstate) 640.

The wireless power transmitter 100 detects whether or not objects existwithin a range that the wireless power transmitter 100 can transmitpower in a wireless manner in the selection state 610, and the wirelesspower transmitter 100 sends a detection signal to the detected objectand the electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 sends aresponse to the detection signal in the ping state 620.

Furthermore, the wireless power transmitter 100 identifies theelectronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 selected through theprevious states and acquires configuration information for powertransmission in the identification and configuration state 630. Thewireless power transmitter 100 transmits power to the electronic device(or wireless power receiver) 200 while controlling power transmitted inresponse to a control message received from the electronic device (orwireless power receiver) 200 in the power transfer state 640.

Hereinafter, each of the operation phases will be described in detail.

1) Selection State

The wireless power transmitter 100 in the selection state 610 performs adetection process to select the electronic device (or wireless powerreceiver) 200 existing within a detection area. The detection area, asdescribed above, refers to a region in which an object within therelevant area can affect on the characteristic of the power of the powerconversion unit 111. Compared to the ping state 620, the detectionprocess for selecting the electronic device (or wireless power receiver)200 in the selection state 610 is a process of detecting a change of thepower amount for forming a wireless power signal in the power conversionunit at the side of the wireless power transmitter 100 to check whetherany object exists within a predetermined range, instead of the scheme ofreceiving a response from the electronic device (or wireless powerreceiver) 200 using a power control message. The detection process inthe selection state 610 may be referred to as an analog ping process inthe aspect of detecting an object using a wireless power signal withoutusing a packet in a digital format in the ping state 620 which will bedescribed later.

The wireless power transmitter 100 in the selection state 610 can detectthat an object comes in or out within the detection area. Furthermore,the wireless power transmitter 100 can distinguish the electronic device(or wireless power receiver) 200 capable of transferring power in awireless manner from other objects (for example, a key, a coin, etc.)among objects located within the detection area.

As described above, a distance that can transmit power in a wirelessmanner may be different according to the inductive coupling method andresonance coupling method, and thus the detection area for detecting anobject in the selection state 610 may be different from one another.

First, in case where power is transmitted according to the inductivecoupling method, the wireless power transmitter 100 in the selectionstate 610 can monitor an interface surface (not shown) to detect thealignment and removal of objects.

Furthermore, the wireless power transmitter 100 may detect the locationof the electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 placed on anupper portion of the interface surface. As described above, the wirelesspower transmitter 100 formed to include one or more transmitting coilsmay perform the process of entering the ping state 620 in the selectionstate 610, and checking whether or not a response to the detectionsignal is transmitted from the object using each coil in the ping state620 or subsequently entering the identification state 630 to checkwhether identification information is transmitted from the object. Thewireless power transmitter 100 may determine a coil to be used forcontactless power transfer based on the detected location of theelectronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 acquired through theforegoing process.

Furthermore, when power is transmitted according to the resonancecoupling method, the wireless power transmitter 100 in the selectionstate 610 can detect an object by detecting that any one of a frequency,a current and a voltage of the power conversion unit is changed due toan object located within the detection area.

On the other hand, the wireless power transmitter 100 in the selectionstate 610 may detect an object by at least any one of the detectionmethods using the inductive coupling method and resonance couplingmethod. The wireless power transmitter 100 may perform an objectdetection process according to each power transmission method, andsubsequently select a method of detecting the object from the couplingmethods for contactless power transfer to advance to other states 620,630, 640.

On the other hand, for the wireless power transmitter 100, a wirelesspower signal formed to detect an object in the selection state 610 and awireless power signal formed to perform digital detection,identification, configuration and power transmission in the subsequentstates 620, 630, 640 may have a different characteristic in thefrequency, strength, and the like. It is because the selection state 610of the wireless power transmitter 100 corresponds to an idle state fordetecting an object, thereby allowing the wireless power transmitter 100to reduce consumption power in the idle state or generate a specializedsignal for effectively detecting an object.

2) Ping State

The wireless power transmitter 100 in the ping state 620 performs aprocess of detecting the electronic device (or wireless power receiver)200 existing within the detection area through a power control message.Compared to the detection process of the electronic device (or wirelesspower receiver) 200 using a characteristic of the wireless power signaland the like in the selection state 610, the detection process in theping state 620 may be referred to as a digital ping process.

The wireless power transmitter 100 in the ping state 620 forms awireless power signal to detect the electronic device (or wireless powerreceiver) 200, modulates the wireless power signal modulated by theelectronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200, and acquires a powercontrol message in a digital data format corresponding to a response tothe detection signal from the modulated wireless power signal. Thewireless power transmitter 100 may receive a power control messagecorresponding to the response to the detection signal to recognize theelectronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 which is a subject ofpower transmission.

The detection signal formed to allowing the wireless power transmitter100 in the ping state 620 to perform a digital detection process may bea wireless power signal formed by applying a power signal at a specificoperating point for a predetermined period of time. The operating pointmay denote a frequency, duty cycle, and amplitude of the voltage appliedto the transmitting (Tx) coil. The wireless power transmitter 100 maygenerate the detection signal generated by applying the power signal ata specific operating point for a predetermined period of time, andattempt to receive a power control message from the electronic device(or wireless power receiver) 200.

On the other hand, the power control message corresponding to a responseto the detection signal may be a message indicating a strength of thewireless power signal received by the electronic device (or wirelesspower receiver) 200. For example, the electronic device (or wirelesspower receiver) 200 may transmit a signal strength packet 5100 includinga message indicating the received strength of the wireless power signalas a response to the detection signal as illustrated in FIG. 15. Thepacket 5100 may include a header 5120 for notifying a packet indicatingthe signal strength and a message 5130 indicating a strength of thepower signal received by the electronic device (or wireless powerreceiver) 200. The strength of the power signal within the message 5130may be a value indicating a degree of inductive coupling or resonancecoupling for power transmission between the wireless power transmitter100 and the electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200.

The wireless power transmitter 100 may receive a response message to thedetection signal to find the electronic device (or wireless powerreceiver) 200, and then extend the digital detection process to enterthe identification and configuration state 630. In other words, thewireless power transmitter 100 maintains the power signal at a specificoperating point subsequent to finding the electronic device (or wirelesspower receiver) 200 to receive a power control message required in theidentification and configuration state 630.

However, if the wireless power transmitter 100 is not able to find theelectronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 to which power can betransferred, then the operation phase of the wireless power transmitter100 will be returned to the selection state 610.

3) Identification and Configuration State

The wireless power transmitter 100 in the identification andconfiguration state 630 may receive identification information and/orconfiguration information transmitted by the electronic device (orwireless power receiver) 200, thereby controlling power transmission tobe effectively carried out.

The electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 in theidentification and configuration state 630 may transmit a power controlmessage including its own identification information. For this purpose,the electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200, for instance,may transmit an identification packet 5200 including a messageindicating the identification information of the electronic device (orwireless power receiver) 200 as illustrated in FIG. 16A. The packet 5200may include a header 5220 for notifying a packet indicatingidentification information and a message 5230 including theidentification information of the electronic device. The message 5230may include information (5231 and 5232) indicating a version of thecontract for contactless power transfer, information 5233 foridentifying a manufacturer of the electronic device (or wireless powerreceiver) 200, information 5234 indicating the presence or absence of anextended device identifier, and a basic device identifier 5235.Furthermore, if it is displayed that an extended device identifierexists in the information 5234 indicating the presence or absence of anextended device identifier, then an extended identification packet 5300including the extended device identifier as illustrated in FIG. 16B willbe transmitted in a separate manner. The packet 5300 may include aheader 5320 for notifying a packet indicating an extended deviceidentifier and a message 5330 including the extended device identifier.When the extended device identifier is used as described above,information based on the manufacturer's identification information 5233,the basic device identifier 5235 and the extended device identifier 5330will be used to identify the electronic device (or wireless powerreceiver) 200.

The electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 may transmit apower control message including information on expected maximum power inthe identification and configuration state 630. To this end, theelectronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200, for instance, maytransmit a configuration packet 5400 as illustrated in FIG. 17. Thepacket may include a header 5420 for notifying that it is aconfiguration packet and a message 5430 including information on theexpected maximum power. The message 5430 may include power class 5431,information 5432 on expected maximum power, an indicator 5433 indicatinga method of determining a current of a main cell at the side of thewireless power transmitter, and the number 5434 of optionalconfiguration packets. The indicator 5433 may indicate whether or not acurrent of the main cell at the side of the wireless power transmitteris determined as specified in the contract for wireless power transfer.

Meanwhile, the electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200according to the exemplary embodiments may transmit a power controlmessage, which includes required power information thereof andassociated profile information, to the wireless power transmitter 100.In some exemplary embodiments, the required power information related tothe electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 or the profileinformation may be transmitted by being included in the configurationpacket 5400 as illustrated in FIG. 17. Alternatively, the required powerinformation related to the electronic device (or wireless powerreceiver) 200 or the profile information may be transmitted by beingincluded in a separate packet for configuration.

On the other hand, the wireless power transmitter 100 may generate apower transfer contract which is used for power charging with theelectronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 based on theidentification information and/or configuration information. The powertransfer contract may include the limits of parameters determining apower transfer characteristic in the power transfer state 640.

The wireless power transmitter 100 may terminate the identification andconfiguration state 630 and return to the selection state 610 prior toentering the power transfer state 640. For instance, the wireless powertransmitter 100 may terminate the identification and configuration state630 to find another electronic device that can receive power in awireless manner.

4) Power Transfer State

The wireless power transmitter 100 in the power transfer state 640transmits power to the electronic device (or wireless power receiver)200.

The wireless power transmitter 100 may receive a power control messagefrom the electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 whiletransferring power, and control a characteristic of the power applied tothe transmitting coil in response to the received power control message.For example, the power control message used to control a characteristicof the power applied to the transmitting coil may be included in acontrol error packet 5500 as illustrated in FIG. 18. The packet 5500 mayinclude a header 5520 for notifying that it is a control error packetand a message 5530 including a control error value. The wireless powertransmitter 100 may control the power applied to the transmitting coilaccording to the control error value. In other words, a current appliedto the transmitting coil may be controlled so as to be maintained if thecontrol error value is “0”, reduced if the control error value is anegative value, and increased if the control error value is a positivevalue.

The wireless power transmitter 100 may monitor parameters within a powertransfer contract generated based on the identification informationand/or configuration information in the power transfer state 640. As aresult of monitoring the parameters, if power transmission to theelectronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 violates the limitsincluded in the power transfer contract, then the wireless powertransmitter 100 may cancel the power transmission and return to theselection state 610.

The wireless power transmitter 100 may terminate the power transferstate 640 based on a power control message transferred from theelectronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200.

For example, if the charging of a battery has been completed whilecharging the battery using power transferred by the electronic device(or wireless power receiver) 200, then a power control message forrequesting the suspension of wireless power transfer will be transferredto the wireless power transmitter 100. In this case, the wireless powertransmitter 100 may receive a message for requesting the suspension ofthe power transmission, and then terminate wireless power transfer, andreturn to the selection state 610.

For another example, the electronic device (or wireless power receiver)200 may transfer a power control message for requesting renegotiation orreconfiguration to update the previously generated power transfercontract. The electronic device (or wireless power receiver) 200 maytransfer a message for requesting the renegotiation of the powertransfer contract when it is required a larger or smaller amount ofpower than the currently transmitted power amount. In this case, thewireless power transmitter 100 may receive a message for requesting therenegotiation of the power transfer contract, and then terminatecontactless power transfer, and return to the identification andconfiguration state 630.

To this end, a message transmitted by the electronic device (or wirelesspower receiver) 200, for instance, may be an end power transfer packet5600 as illustrated in FIG. 19. The packet 5600 may include a header5620 for notifying that it is an end power transfer packet and a message5630 including an end power transfer code indicating the cause of thesuspension. The end power transfer code may indicate any one of chargecomplete, internal fault, over temperature, over voltage, over current,battery failure, reconfigure, no response, and unknown error.

Hereinafter, description will be given of a communication protocolselection method for enabling various applications of wireless powertransfer by supporting various communication protocols between awireless power transmitter 100 and a wireless power receiver 200 (orelectronic device), with reference to FIGS. 20 to 30.

Wireless Power Transmission/Reception System Using MultipleCommunication Protocols

In general, a contactless wireless charging method is an energy transferconception, capable of electromagnetically transferring energy witheliminating wires (cables) from the conventional method, which transfersenergy via a wire and uses it as power of an electronic device.

The contactless wireless transfer methods may include an inductive powertransfer method.

The inductive power transfer may be a power transfer method usingelectromagnetic induction that a power transmitting unit (or powerconversion unit 111) generates a magnetic field by use of a coil(primary coil 1111), and a coil (secondary coil 2911) is situated at aposition where current can be induced.

This method has already been utilized in devices, such as electrictoothbrushes, wireless coffee ports and the like that are frequentlyused in real lives, and may also be commercialized for charging portabledevices such as smart phones and the like.

In order for wireless power transmitters and receivers, which areproduced by different companies, to properly play their own roles,technologies associated with wireless power transfer are beingstandardized by Wireless Power consortium (WPC). An example of the WPCstandard may be System Description Wireless Power Transfer, Volume I:Low Power, Part I: Interface Definition, Version 1.0 (released on July,2010) or Version 1.1 (released on March, 2012).

A wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver may need acommunication protocol for performing data transmission and receptionfor wireless power transfer therebetween.

Examples of the communication protocol may include ASK/NRZI, ASK/NRZ_L,FSK/Manxhester, FSK/NRZI, Bluetooth™, Zigbee, Ultra Wide Band (UWB),Wireless USB, Near Field Communication (NFC) or Wireless LAN.

Therefore, in case where the communication protocol is provided inplurality, the wireless power transmitter or the wireless power receivermay decide (or select) a specific communication protocol from theplurality of communication protocols so as to perform transmission ordata reception of data for the wireless power transfer based on thedecided communication protocol.

FIG. 20 is a view illustrating a construction of a wireless power systemin accordance with one exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, a wireless power system in accordance withone exemplary embodiment may include a wireless power transmitter 100and a wireless power receiver 200.

The wireless power transmitter 100 may transfer power to the wirelesspower receiver 200 in a wireless manner by transmitting a wireless powersignal p110.

The wireless power receiver 200 may include a power receiving unit 291and a power reception control unit 292.

The power receiving unit 291 may receive power, which is transferred bythe wireless power transmitter 100 in the wireless manner, by receivingthe wireless power signal p110.

The power receiving unit 291 may include constituent elements requiredto receive the wireless power signal according to a wireless powertransfer method. Also, the power receiving unit 291 may receive poweraccording to at least one wireless power transfer method, and in thiscase, may include different constituent elements according to eachmethod.

First, the power receiving unit 291 may include a coil for receiving awireless power signal, which is transferred in the form of a magneticfield or electromagnetic field having an oscillation characteristic.

For example, in some exemplary embodiments, the power receiving unit 291may include, as a constituent element according to an inductive couplingmethod, a secondary coil to which a current is induced by a changingmagnetic field. Also, in other exemplary embodiments, the powerreceiving unit 291 may include, as constituent elements according to aresonance coupling method, a coil and a resonant generation circuit inwhich resonance phenomenon is generated by a magnetic field having aspecific resonant frequency.

Here, in exemplary embodiments, the power receiving unit 291 may receivepower according to at least one wireless power transfer method. In thiscase, the power receiving unit 291 may be implemented to receive powerusing a single coil or using a coil, which is formed differentlyaccording to each power transfer method.

The power reception control unit 292 may control constituent elements ofthe wireless power receiver 200 to provide a communication protocoldeciding function for data transmission or reception between thewireless power receiver 200 and the wireless power transmitter 100.

In one exemplary embodiment, the power reception control unit 292 maytransmit first communication protocol information, which indicatescommunication protocols supportable by the wireless power receiver 200,to the wireless power transmitter 100.

The first communication protocol information may be transmitted to thewireless power transmitter 100 according to various methods.

For example, the first communication protocol information may betransmitted to the wireless power transmitter 100 by modulation of thewireless power signal. That is, the power reception control unit 292 maygenerate a packet including the first communication protocolinformation, and the power receiving unit 291 may modulate the wirelesspower signal to include the packet.

Such method may be the same as or similar to the aforementioned powercontrol message transmission method performed by the power receptioncontrol unit 292.

Therefore, in order to transmit the first communication protocolinformation, the wireless power receiver 200 may further include a powercommunications modulation/demodulation unit 293 electrically connectedto the power receiving unit 291.

The modulation/demodulation unit 293, similar to the wireless powertransmitter 100, may be used to transmit the first communicationprotocol information via the wireless power signal.

A wireless power signal, which is generated by the power conversion unit111 of the wireless power transmitter 100, may be received by the powerreceiving unit 291. Here, the power reception control unit 292 maycontrol the modulation/demodulation unit 293 of the wireless powerreceiver 200 to modulate the wireless power signal. For example, thepower reception control unit 292 may modulate the wireless power signalby changing reactance of the modulation/demodulation unit 293 connectedto the power receiving unit 291. This may be referred to as aback-scattering method.

The modulation of the wireless power signal may result in changes ofcurrent and/or voltage of the power conversion unit 111, which generatesthe wireless power signal. Here, the modulation/demodulation unit 113 ofthe wireless power transmitter 100 may execute a demodulation process bysensing the changes of the current and/or the voltage of the powerconversion unit 111, acquiring the first communication protocolinformation (or the packet including the first communication protocolinformation).

Also, for instance, the first communication protocol information may betransmitted to the wireless power transmitter 100 through acommunication module which is separately disposed in the wireless powerreceiver 200.

The communication module may support at least one of Zigbee, Bluetoothand NFC.

In one exemplary embodiment, upon reception of second communicationprotocol information, which indicates communication protocols selectedbased on the first communication protocol information, from the wirelesspower transmitter 100, the power reception control unit 292 may decide acommunication protocol for transmitting or receiving data for receivingthe wireless power signal based on the second communication protocolinformation.

The second communication protocol information may also be received byvarious methods. For example, the wireless power receiver 200 mayacquire the second communication protocol information by receiving thewireless power signal, which has been modulated to include the secondcommunication protocol information. Also, the wireless power receiver200 may acquire the second communication protocol information throughthe communication module.

In one exemplary embodiment, the wireless power transmitter 100 mayinclude a power conversion unit 111 and a power transmission controlunit 112.

The power conversion unit 111 may generate a wireless power signal.

In detail, the power conversion unit 111, as aforementioned, may play arole of converting power supplied from a transmitting side power supplyunit 190 into a wireless power signal to transfer to the wireless powerreceiver (or electronic device) 200.

The wireless power signal transferred by the power conversion unit 111may be generated in the form of a magnetic field or electromagneticfield having a vibration characteristic.

The power transmission control unit 112 may control each constituentelement included in the power conversion unit 111. In exemplaryembodiments, the power transmission control unit 112 may be integratedwith another controller (not shown) for control of the wireless powertransmitter 100.

In one exemplary embodiment, when the power transmission control unit112 receives first communication protocol information, which indicatescommunication protocols supportable by the wireless power receiver 200,from the wireless power receiver 200, the power transmission controlunit 112 may decide a communication protocol for transmitting orreceiving data for transmission of the wireless power signal based onthe first communication protocol information.

Also, the power transmission control unit 112 may transmit secondcommunication protocol information indicating the decided communicationprotocol to the wireless power receiver 200.

Overview of Communication Protocol Selection Method in Accordance withOne Exemplary Embodiment

A technology disclosed in this specification may be a technologyincluding a conception of extending Chapter 6 Communication Interfacefor use by adding a new phase between an identification & configurationphase and a power transfer phase of Chapter 5 System Control of WirelessPower Specification part 1 System Description of Wireless PowerConsortium (WPC).

The technology proposed in this specification aims to extending anapplication range of a wireless power transmitter/receiver byintroducing a communication protocol selection method for allowing theuse of a plurality of communication protocols between a wireless powertransmitting unit (or a wireless power transmitter 100) and a wirelesspower receiving unit (or a wireless power receiver 200).

Hereinafter, an overview of the technology proposed in thisspecification will be described.

1) Wireless power transmitter and receiver may generate a list ofcommunication protocols (i.e., communication protocol list) selectedfrom a communication protocol catalog, and select at least onecommunication method (or at least communication protocol) from the list.

2) The communication protocol catalog may be created by predeterminingall of communication protocols supportable by both the wireless powertransmitter and the wireless power receiver. The wireless powertransmitter and receiver may implement a communication function byselecting a communication protocol from the catalog.

3) In Item 1), the receiver may transfer communication protocolinformation supportable by itself to the transmitter, allowing thetransmitter to select the communication method (protocol).

4) In Item 1), a method for transferring a plurality of communicationprotocols may be subject to a communication protocol (or referencecommunication protocol), which basically ensures an information transferbetween the transmitter and the receiver.

5) In Item 1), the plurality of communication protocols may include acommunication method (or communication protocol) by an internal change(variation, transformation, modulation) of a power transfer channel (orback-scattering) or a communication method (or communication protocol)through other channels except for a power transfer channel (orcommunication method using a separate communication module).

6) In Item 2), the communication protocol catalog may include types(titles, contents, descriptions) of communication methods and alsoinclude data formed by a set of bits representing a communicationdirection and a communication protocol number for transferring suchtype.

7) In Item 2), the data formed with numerals representing thecommunication directions and communication methods may be included in auser definition area specified in the conventional specification (forexample, WPC standards) (for example, in a reserved bit of a reservedpacket type disclosed in the WPC standards or a conventionally usedpacket type), to be kept compatible with the conventional (existing)communication method.

For example, the wireless power receiver 200 may create a communicationprotocol list which can be supported by itself, and transmit dataassociated with the communication protocol list according to theconventional (existing) method (or a reference communication protocol).

Also, the wireless power receiver may support at least one communicationprotocol.

The wireless power receiver may create a list by selecting only one ofthe supportable communication protocols or all of the supportablecommunication protocols. Communication protocols included in thecommunication protocol list may be available if it is supportable by thereceiver and the number of communication protocols may depend onapplications (or embodiments). Also, communication protocols sorted onan upper position of the list may have higher priorities. Therefore, acommunication protocol having a higher priority may be selected from theplurality of communication protocols included in the communicationprotocol list.

Upon receiving the communication protocol list, the wireless powertransmitter 100 may select supportable communication protocols, one byone, from the received communication protocol list according to acommunication direction (for example, a transmitting direction or areceiving direction). The wireless power transmitter 100 may thengenerate a communication protocol list of the selected communicationprotocols, transmitting it to the wireless power receiver.

The wireless power transmitter may make preparations for communicationaccording to the selected communication protocol. The wireless powertransmitter may perform only reception according to the conventionalmethod (or reference communication protocol) to transfer power in awireless manner when it fails to receive the communication protocollist.

The wireless power receiver may check the transmitted communicationprotocol list to get ready for communication according to the list. Thewireless power receiver may receive power in a wireless manner accordingto the conventional method (or reference communication protocol) when itfails to receive a response from the wireless power transmitter orreceives the response without a communication protocol list.

Here, the conventional method (or reference communication protocol) maybe a communication protocol for ensuring (guaranteeing) datatransmission or data reception between the wireless power transmitter100 and the wireless power receiver 200. For example, the conventionalmethod may be a communication method by modulation of a wireless powersignal (for example, back-scattering). In this case, the modulationmechanism may be ASK.

FIG. 21 is an exemplary view illustrating a communication protocolcatalog in accordance with one exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 21, the communication protocol catalog mayinclude information indicating all of predetermined communicationprotocols which are supportable by the wireless power transmitter 100 orthe wireless power receiver 200.

The communication protocol may include physical, logical and applicabletypes, and be available if it is predetermined.

Each communication protocol may be given a single communication protocolnumber.

In one exemplary embodiment, each of the communication protocols may begiven a 7-bit number, and the uppermost 1 bit may indicate acommunication direction (transmitting or receiving direction).

For example, the communication protocol catalog may specify totally 128types of communication protocols in the range of 0x00˜7F in case of theexemplary embodiment.

The wireless power transmitter 100 or the wireless power receiver 200may create a communication protocol list, which includes informationindicating communication protocols supportable by the device, of thecommunication protocol catalog.

In one exemplary embodiment, the communication protocol catalog may bestored for use in a memory (not shown) of the wireless power transmitter100 or the wireless power receiver 200.

FIG. 22 is an exemplary view illustrating communication protocolinformation in accordance with one exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 22, the communication protocol information mayinclude information related to a communication protocol numberrepresented with 6 bits (b0˜b6) and a communication direction(transmitting or receiving direction) represented with the uppermost bit(b7).

For example, when the communication protocol number is 0x10 (0010000),the type (or, title, contents, description, etc.) of the communicationprotocol may be Zigbee corresponding to ‘010000’ as the lower 6-bitinformation, and the communication direction may indicate a receivingdirection corresponding to ‘0’ as the uppermost bit information.

FIG. 23 is an exemplary view illustrating a communication protocol listin accordance with one exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 23, a communication protocol list according toone exemplary embodiment may be a list containing communicationprotocols, which are actually supportable by the wireless powertransmitter 100 or the wireless power receiver 200, of communicationprotocols included in a communication protocol catalog.

When a plurality of communication protocols are supportable, theplurality of communication protocols may be given priorities in theorder of being arranged in the list. A communication protocol having ahigher priority may be located at the upper position of the list. Forexample, referring to FIG. 23, the communication protocol B0 may have ahigher priority than the communication protocol B1. Therefore, the B0may be highly likely to be decided as a communication protocol by thewireless power transmitter 100 or the wireless power receiver 200.

The wireless power receiver 200 may create the list (for example, afirst communication protocol list) and transmit it to the wireless powertransmitter 100. Here, the list may be transmitted to the wireless powertransmitter 100 in the format of a packet, and the transmission methodis the same as the aforementioned.

The wireless power transmitter 100 may then create a communicationprotocol list (for example, a second communication protocol list), whichincludes its supportable communication protocols of the communicationprotocols included in the received list, in the same format as thereceived list, transmitting the created list to the wireless powerreceiver 200.

In one exemplary embodiment, the wireless power transmitter 100 or thewireless power receiver 200 may transmit or receive the communicationprotocol list in the format of a packet.

A packet including the communication protocol list may be transmitted byuse of a user definition area specified in the conventionalspecification (for example, WPC standards) (for example, in a reservedbit of a reserved packet type disclosed in the WPC standards or aconventionally used packet type).

FIG. 24 is an exemplary view illustrating types of packets in accordancewith one exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 24, types of packets in accordance with oneexemplary embodiment may be sorted into a packet used in a ping phase(or selection phase, header: 0x01), a packet used in an identification &configuration phase (header: 0x06, 0x51, 0x71, 0x81), a packet used in apower transfer phase (header: 0x02˜0x05), and a proprietary packet (orreserved packet, header: 0x18˜0xF2). Details are specified in the WPCstandard.

The packet including the communication protocol list may be transmittedor received by the wireless power transmitter 100 or the wireless powerreceiver 200 by use of the proprietary packet.

Also, the packet including the communication protocol list may betransmitted or received by the wireless power transmitter 100 or thewireless power receiver 200 using a reserved bit included in an existingpacket.

The existing packet may be at least one of a packet used in the pingphase (header: 0x01), a packet used in the identification &configuration phase (header: 0x06, 0x51, 0x71 and 0x81), and a packetused in the power transfer phase (header: 0x02˜0x05).

For example, the existing packet may be a configuration packet (header:0x51).

FIG. 25 is an exemplary view illustrating a type of configuration packetin accordance with one exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 25, a configuration packet (header: 0x51) inaccordance with one exemplary embodiment may include a plurality ofinformation B0˜B4 represented with 8 bits. Details of the configurationpacket may be specified in the WPC standards.

Also, the configuration packet may include a plurality of reserved bits.

In one exemplary embodiment, a packet including the communicationprotocol list may be transmitted or received by the wireless powertransmitter 100 or the wireless power receiver 200 using the pluralityof reserved bits included in the configuration packet.

FIG. 26 is a communication flowchart under Wireless Power Consortium(WPC) standard.

As illustrated in FIG. 26, the operation phases in a communicationflowchart between the wireless power transmitter 100 and the wirelesspower receiver 200 for wireless power transfer may be divided into theselection phase, the ping phase, the identification & configurationphase and the power transfer phase, as aforementioned.

In the selection phase, it may be detected whether or not objects arepresent within a range in which the wireless power transmitter 100 cantransmit power in a wireless manner (for example, the objects may bedetected through the aforementioned analog ping process).

The ping phase may allow the wireless power transmitter 100 to transmita ping signal to the detected objects and the wireless power receiver200 to respond to the ping signal.

In the ping phase, the wireless power receiver 200 may transmit a packetincluding information related to a signal strength to the wireless powertransmitter 100.

Also, the identification and configuration phase may allow the wirelesspower transmitter 100 to identify the wireless power receiver 200, whichhas been selected through the previous phases, and to acquireconfiguration information for power transfer.

The power transfer phase may allow the wireless power transmitter 100 totransfer power to the wireless power receiver 200 with controlling thetransmitted power in response to a control message received from thewireless power receiver 200.

The control message may be transmitted to the wireless power transmitter100 by being included in a packet (for example, a control error packet)5500, which includes a control error (or error) as illustrated in FIG.18.

FIG. 27 is a communication flowchart between a wireless powertransmitter and a wireless power receiver in accordance with oneexemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 27, a communication flowchart between thewireless power transmitter 100 and the wireless power receiver 200according to one exemplary embodiment may include a protocol selectionphase between the identification & configuration phase and the powertransfer phase.

In the protocol selection phase, the wireless power receiver 200 maytransfer first communication protocol information, which indicatessupportable communication protocols among predetermined communicationprotocols included in the communication protocol catalog, to thewireless power transmitter 100 (“communication protocol suggestion”illustrated in FIG. 27).

The wireless power transmitter 100 may decide (or select) acommunication protocol based on the first communication protocolinformation (“communication protocol selection” illustrated in FIG. 27).

The wireless power transmitter 100 may transmit second communicationprotocol information, which indicates the decided communicationprotocol, to the wireless power receiver 200.

FIG. 28 is an exemplary view illustrating a method for deciding acommunication protocol between a wireless power transmitter and awireless power receiver in accordance with one exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 28, the wireless power receiver 100 may transmita list of supportable communication protocols (or first communicationprotocol information) to the wireless power transmitter 200.

The wireless power transmitter 100 may determine whether or not it isable to select a communication protocol based on the communicationprotocol list.

When the wireless power transmitter 100 is unable to select acommunication protocol based on the communication protocol list (forexample, when it fails to receive the communication protocol list or hasno supportable communication protocol), the wireless power transmitter100 may perform only reception based on a reference protocol (orreference communication protocol) to transmit power to the wirelesspower receiver 200 in a wireless manner. Here, a unidirectionalcommunication by the wireless power receiver 200 may merely beperformed.

The reference communication protocol may be a communication protocol forensuring data transmission or data reception between the wireless powertransmitter 100 and the wireless power receiver 200.

When the wireless power transmitter 100 is able to select acommunication protocol based on the communication protocol list, it maytransmit the communication protocol list (or the second communicationprotocol information) including the selected communication protocol tothe wireless power receiver 200.

The wireless power transmitter 100 may also change a communicationprotocol to the selected communication protocol.

The wireless power receiver 200 may determine whether or not it is ableto decide (or select) a communication protocol based on the selectedcommunication protocol list.

When the wireless power receiver 200 is unable to decide (or select) acommunication protocol based on the selected communication protocol list(for example, when it fails to receive the selected communicationprotocol list), the wireless power receiver 200 may perform onlytransmission based on the reference communication protocol. Here, aunidirectional communication by the wireless power receiver 200 maymerely be performed.

When the wireless power receiver 200 is able to decide (or select) acommunication protocol based on the selected communication protocollist, it may change a communication protocol to the decided (selected)communication protocol.

Afterwards, the wireless power transmitter 100 and the wireless powerreceiver 200 may perform communication therebetween based on the decided(or selected) communication protocol.

Method for Deciding Communication Protocol by Wireless Power Receiver

A method for deciding a communication protocol by a wireless powerreceiver in accordance with one exemplary embodiment is for the wirelesspower receiver to decide a communication protocol for performing datatransmission or data reception with a wireless power transmitter. Themethod performed by the wireless power receiver may include transmittingfirst communication protocol information indicating communicationprotocols supportable by the wireless power receiver itself to thewireless power transmitter, and deciding a communication protocol fordata transmission or data reception based on second communicationprotocol information, which indicates communication protocols selectedbased on the first communication protocol information, when the secondcommunication protocol information is received from the wireless powertransmitter.

In one exemplary embodiment, the first communication protocolinformation may include a communication protocol list in whichcommunication protocols supportable by the wireless power receiver arelisted.

In one exemplary embodiment, the communication protocols supportable bythe wireless power receiver may be selected from predeterminedcommunication protocols included in a communication protocol catalog.

Also, in one exemplary embodiment, the second communication protocolinformation may include a communication protocol list in whichcommunication protocols selected based on the first communicationprotocol information are listed.

In one exemplary embodiment, when the selected communication protocolsare in plurality, the decision of the communication protocol may beexecuted based on positions of the selected communication protocols inthe communication protocol list containing the selected communicationprotocols.

In one exemplary embodiment, the method may further include performingthe data transmission or data reception with the wireless powertransmitter based on the decided communication protocol.

In one exemplary embodiment, the transmitting of the first communicationprotocol information to the wireless power transmitter may includegenerating a packet including the first communication protocolinformation, and transmitting the generated packet to the wireless powertransmitter.

In one exemplary embodiment, the packet may be transmitted by modulatinga wireless power signal generated by the wireless power transmitter toinclude the packet.

In one exemplary embodiment, the packet may be transmitted by acommunication module provided in the wireless power receiver.

In one exemplary embodiment, the communication module may support atleast one of Zigbee, Bluetooth and Near Field Communication (NFC).

In one exemplary embodiment, the first communication protocolinformation or the second communication protocol information may includecommunication direction information and a communication protocol numberindicating the type (or title, description, contents, etc.) ofcommunication protocol.

In one exemplary embodiment, the communication direction information mayinclude information, which indicates a first direction that data istransmitted from the wireless power transmitter to the wireless powerreceiver, and a second direction that data is transmitted from thewireless power receiver to the wireless power transmitter.

In one exemplary embodiment, the selected communication protocols mayinclude a communication protocol corresponding to the first directionand a communication protocol corresponding to the second direction.

In one exemplary embodiment, the first communication protocolinformation or the second communication protocol information may be7-bit information. Here, the communication direction information may be1-bit information, and the communication protocol number information maybe 6-bit information.

In one exemplary embodiment, the method may further include performingthe data transmission or data reception with the wireless powertransmitter based on a reference communication protocol upon failure ofreception of the second communication protocol information from thewireless power transmitter.

In one exemplary embodiment, the reference communication protocol may bea communication protocol for ensuring data transmission or datareception between the wireless power transmitter and the wireless powerreceiver.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating a method for deciding acommunication protocol by a wireless power receiver in accordance withone exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 29, a method for deciding a communicationprotocol by a wireless power receiver in accordance with one exemplaryembodiment may include the following steps.

First, the wireless power receiver may transmit first communicationprotocol information, which indicates communication protocols that canbe supported by the wireless power receiver, to a wireless powertransmitter (S110).

The wireless power receiver may determine whether or not it has receivedsecond communication protocol information, which indicates acommunication protocol selected based on the first communicationprotocol information, from the wireless power transmitter (S120).

When it has received the second communication protocol information fromthe wireless power transmitter, the wireless power receiver may decide acommunication protocol for transmitting or receiving the data based onthe second communication protocol information (S130).

Here, the wireless power receiver may perform the data transmission ordata reception with the wireless power transmitter based on the decidedcommunication protocol (S150).

When it has failed to receive the second communication protocolinformation from the wireless power transmitter, the wireless powerreceiver may perform the data transmission or data reception with thewireless power transmitter based on a reference communication protocol(S140).

Method for Deciding Communication Protocol by Wireless Power Transmitter

A method for deciding a communication protocol by a wireless powertransmitter in accordance with one exemplary embodiment may be a methodin which the wireless power transmitter decides a communication protocolfor data transmission or data reception with a wireless power receiver.The method performed by the wireless power transmitter may includedeciding a communication protocol based on first communication protocolinformation, which indicates communication protocols supportable by thewireless power receiver, upon reception of the first communicationprotocol information from the wireless power receiver, and transmittingsecond communication protocol information, which indicates the decidedcommunication protocol, to the wireless power receiver.

In one exemplary embodiment, the method may further include performingthe data transmission or data reception based on the decidedcommunication protocol.

In one exemplary embodiment, the transmitting of the secondcommunication protocol information to the wireless power receiver mayinclude generating a packet including the second communication protocolinformation, and transmitting the generated packet to the wireless powerreceiver.

In one exemplary embodiment, the packet may be transmitted by generatinga wireless power signal which has been modulated to include the packet.

In one exemplary embodiment, the packet may be transmitted by acommunication module provided in the wireless power transmitter.

In one exemplary embodiment, the communication module may support atleast one of Zigbee, Bluetooth and NFC.

In one exemplary embodiment, the first communication protocolinformation or the second communication protocol information may includecommunication direction information and a communication protocol numberindicating a type (or, title, contents, description, etc.) of thecommunication protocol.

In one exemplary embodiment, the method may further include performingthe data transmission or data reception with the wireless power receiverbased on a reference communication protocol upon failure of thereception of the first communication protocol information from thewireless power receiver.

In one exemplary embodiment, the reference communication protocol may bea communication protocol for ensuring the data transmission or datareception between the wireless power transmitter and the wireless powerreceiver.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a method for deciding acommunication protocol by a wireless power transmitter in accordancewith one exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 30, a method for deciding a communicationprotocol by a wireless power transmitter in accordance with oneexemplary embodiment may include the following steps.

First, the wireless power transmitter may determine whether or not ithas received first communication protocol information, which indicatescommunication protocols supportable by a wireless power receiver, fromthe wireless power receiver (S210).

When it has received the first communication protocol information, thewireless power transmitter may decide a communication protocol based onthe first communication protocol information (S220).

Here, the wireless power transmitter may transmit second communicationprotocol information, which indicates the decided communicationprotocol, to the wireless power receiver (S240).

Also, the wireless power transmitter may perform data transmission ordata reception with the wireless power receiver based on the decidedcommunication protocol (S250).

The wireless power transmitter may perform the data transmission or datareception with the wireless power receiver based on a referencecommunication protocol upon failure of the reception of the firstcommunication protocol information (S230).

The foregoing method may be implemented in a recording medium readableby a computer or its similar devices by employing, for example,software, hardware or some combinations thereof.

For a hardware implementation, the embodiments described herein may beimplemented by using at least any one of application specific integratedcircuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signalprocessing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), fieldprogrammable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers,micro-controllers, microprocessors, other electronic units designed toperform the functions described herein. For example, the foregoingmethods may be implemented by the control unit (or Controller) 180 orpower transmission control unit 112 in the wireless power transmitter100, or implemented by the controller 280 or Power reception controlunit (or POWER RECEIVING CONTROL UNIT) 292 in the electronic device (orthe wireless power receiver) 200.

For a software implementation, the embodiments such as procedures andfunctions disclosed herein may be implemented with separate softwaremodules. Each of the software modules may perform one or more of thefunctions and operations described herein. Software codes may beimplemented by using a software application written in a suitableprogramming language. The software codes may be stored in the memory 150in the wireless power transmitter 100, and implemented by the controlunit (or Controller) 180 or the power transmission control unit 112, andsimilarly, stored in the memory 260 in the electronic device 200, andimplemented by the controller 280 or the Power reception control unit(or POWER RECEIVING CONTROL UNIT) 292.

The scope of the invention will not be limited to the embodimentsdisclosed herein, and thus various modifications, variations, andimprovements can be made in the present invention without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, and within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for deciding a communication protocolusing a wireless power receiver for data transmission or data receptionwith a wireless power transmitter, the method comprising: transmitting apower control message including an end power transfer code indicating acause for a suspension of wireless power transfer to the wireless powertransmitter to update a previous communication protocol to a newcommunication protocol, wherein the end power transfer code includes acharge complete and a reconfiguration; transmitting first communicationprotocol information to the wireless power transmitter, the firstcommunication protocol information indicating communication protocolssupportable by the wireless power receiver; determining whether secondcommunication protocol information on a plurality of secondcommunication protocols is received from the wireless power transmitter,the second communication protocol information indicating communicationprotocols selected by the wireless power transmitter based on the firstcommunication protocol information and the end power transfer code; anddeciding the new communication protocol for the data transmission ordata reception if the second communication protocol information on theplurality of second communication protocols is received, wherein thefirst communication protocol information is prioritized to update to thenew communication protocol when the end power transfer code indicatesthe reconfiguration.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wirelesspower transmitter terminates the wireless power transfer and returns toa selection state when the end power transfer code indicates the chargecomplete.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of thecommunication protocols supportable by the wireless power receiver isselected from predetermined communication protocols included in acommunication protocol catalog.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein thesecond communication protocol information includes a communicationprotocol list in which at least one of the communication protocolsselected by the wireless power transmitter based on the firstcommunication protocol information is listed.
 5. The method of claim 4,wherein when the selected at least one communication protocol is inplurality, the decision of the communication protocol is executed basedon positions of the selected communication protocols in thecommunication protocol list containing the selected communicationprotocols.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: performing thedata transmission or data reception with the wireless power transmitterbased on the decided communication protocol.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein the transmitting of the first communication protocol informationto the wireless power transmitter comprises: generating a packetincluding the first communication protocol information; and transmittingthe generated packet to the wireless power transmitter.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, wherein the packet is transmitted by modulating a wirelesspower signal generated by the wireless power transmitter to include thepacket.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the packet is transmitted by acommunication module provided in the wireless power receiver.
 10. Themethod of claim 9, wherein the communication module supports at leastone of Zigbee, Bluetooth and Near Field Communication (NFC).
 11. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the first communication protocol informationor the second communication protocol information includes communicationdirection information and a communication protocol number indicating adifferent type of the communication protocol including a first type ofcommunication and a second type of communication, wherein thecommunication protocol number is selected according to the communicationdirection information, and wherein a packet modulated based on the firsttype of the communication protocol is not demodulated with the secondtype of communication.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein thecommunication direction information includes information indicating atleast one of a first direction that data is transmitted from thewireless power transmitter to the wireless power receiver, and a seconddirection that data is transmitted from the wireless power receiver tothe wireless power transmitter.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein theselected at least one communication protocol includes the first type ofcommunication protocol corresponding to the first direction and thesecond type of communication protocol corresponding to the seconddirection.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first communicationprotocol information or the second communication protocol information is7-bit information, and wherein the communication direction informationis 1-bit information, and the communication protocol number is 6-bitinformation.
 15. The method of claim 1, further comprising: performingthe data transmission or data reception with the wireless powertransmitter based on a reference communication protocol upon a failureof the reception of the second communication protocol information fromthe wireless power transmitter.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein thereference communication protocol is a communication protocol forensuring the data transmission or data reception between the wirelesspower transmitter and the wireless power receiver.
 17. A method fordeciding a communication protocol using a wireless power transmitter fordata transmission or data reception with a wireless power receiver, themethod comprising: receiving a power control message including an endpower transfer code indicating a cause for a suspension of wirelesspower transfer from the wireless power receiver to update from aprevious communication protocol to a new communication protocol, whereinthe end power transfer code includes a charge complete and areconfiguration; deciding, by the wireless power transmitter, aplurality of communication protocols based on first communicationprotocol information and the power control message upon reception of thefirst communication protocol information from the wireless powerreceiver, the first communication protocol indicating communicationprotocols supportable by the wireless power receiver; transmittingsecond communication protocol information to the wireless powerreceiver, the second communication protocol information indicating thedecided plurality of communication protocols; and performing the datatransmission or data reception with the wireless power receiver based ona communication protocol determined at the wireless power receiver,wherein the communication protocol is decided based on the secondcommunication protocol information if the second communication protocolinformation on the plurality of communication protocols is received, andwherein the first communication protocol information is prioritized toupdate to the new communication protocol when the end power transfercode indicates the reconfiguration.
 18. The method of claim 17, whereinthe transmitting of the second communication protocol information to thewireless power receiver comprises: generating a packet including thesecond communication protocol information; and transmitting thegenerated packet to the wireless power receiver.
 19. The method of claim18, wherein the wireless power transmitter terminates the wireless powertransfer and returns to a selection state when the end power transfercode indicates the charge complete.
 20. The method of claim 18, whereinthe packet is transmitted by a communication module provided in thewireless power transmitter.